Driver in EPA Fatal Crash Charged with DUI, Vehicular Manslaughter

A woman accused of killing another woman in a drunken driving crash in East Palo Alto on Friday night was arraigned in San Mateo County Superior Court this afternoon.

Leylani Simmons, 25, of East Palo Alto, appeared in court with large bruises covering most of the left side of her face. She did not enter a plea.

Simmons has been charged with vehicular manslaughter, driving under the influence of alcohol resulting in great bodily injury or death, and driving on a suspended license, according to the district attorney's office.

Simmons was arrested early Monday evening at Stanford University Medical Center, where she had been recovering from injuries sustained in Friday's fatal crash, acting police Capt. Jeff Liu said.

Patrol officers spotted Simmons driving recklessly on Pulgas Avenue at about 10:30 p.m., Liu said.

East Palo Alto woman Lorina Veamatahau, 22, was a passenger in the car.

Police attempted to stop Simmons, but she reportedly refused to pull over and drove as far as an intersection with East Bayshore Road, where she lost control of her car and crashed, Liu said.

Simmons and Veamatahau were both ejected in the crash.

Veamatahau died at the scene.

Upon release from the hospital, Simmons was arrested and taken to San Mateo County Jail, where she remains in custody with bail set at $500,000.

Simmons had an active arrest warrant in Santa Clara County for reckless driving and defrauding an innkeeper, according to police.

She is scheduled to reappear in court in Redwood City on Friday at 1:30 p.m.

Anyone who might have witnessed the crash is asked to call or text message police at (650) 409-6792 or email to epa@tipnow.org.

--Bay City News