Woman Pleads No-Contest to Gross Vehicular Manslaughter

From South Lake Tahoe Police

On 9/14/15, Olga Nayeli Pena-Arce pleaded no-contest to charges stemming from a single vehicle collision that occurred in the early morning hours of 11/24/14.

On the morning of the collision, Pena-Arce, who was 20 years old at the time, was driving her 2000 Saturn sedan westbound on Pioneer Trail. Pena-Arce had two passengers, including 21 year old Aimee Campos. Pena-Arce was traveling at a high rate of speed, lost control of the vehicle, and slammed into a retaining wall. The collision killed Campos and injured the other passenger.

The South Lake Tahoe Police Department initiated an investigation into the collision. Investigators found Pena-Arce had been to at least one bar that evening, consumed alcohol and subsequently drove with a BAC over .08%. Investigators also found Pena-Arce had been driving in excess of 75 MPH in the 35 MPH zone.

Pena-Arce pleaded no-contest to gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and DUI causing injury. She will return to El Dorado County Superior Court on 11/13/15 for sentencing. She faces a possible state prison sentence up to a maximum of 12 years, 8 months.

This case was investigated by the South Lake Tahoe Police Department, CHP Multidisciplinary Accident Investigation Team (MAIT,) and the El Dorado County District Attorney’s Office.

From South Lake Tahoe Police