Upland Woman Facing Murder Charges After Taco Truck Crash

Murder and other charges were filed today against a suspected drunken driver accused of barreling down an offramp, running a red light and crashing her car into a crowd at a taco truck in Boyle Heights, killing two people, while fleeing from CHP officers.

Elba Jimenez, 37, of Upland, is charged with two counts of murder and one felony count each of evading an officer, DUI causing injury and driving with a .08 percent or higher blood-alcohol level causing injury in connection with the Saturday night crash, according to the District Attorney's Office.

Jimenez made her initial court appearance today but did not enter a plea. she was ordered held on $2 million bail pending arraignment July 12 at the downtown Los Angeles courthouse.   

According to the California Highway Patrol and prosecutors, the chase
began around 11:20 p.m. Saturday on the eastbound Santa Monica (10) Freeway near the Convention Center when a CHP officer saw a motorist he believed was intoxicated.

The officer followed the 2005 Toyota Camry -- being driven at speeds up to 100 mph -- onto the northbound Golden State (5) Freeway, where the officer tried to make a stop. The driver refused to pull over and sped off the freeway at the Cesar Chavez Avenue offramp, according to the CHP.

"The driver exited the freeway at Cesar Chavez Avenue and blew the red
light at the intersection,'' CHP Officer Patrick Kimball said. "She drove into
a parking lot, where a food vending truck was set up, and crashed into the
truck, striking three people outside the truck.''

Claudia Fernandez, 38, and Marlene Alatorre, 19, died of their injuries, and Jimenez was taken to Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries.