MENIFEE: Already convicted of 1 DUI, intoxicated wrong way driver plows head-on into car

MENIFEE — An allegedly intoxicated woman, already on probation for a 2016 DUI conviction, was arrested again late Wednesday evening, Apr. 18, after plowing head-on into another vehicle in Menifee. The accident, which sent both drivers to area hospitals, happened at the intersection of Scott Road and the I-215 overpass in Menifee.

After being arrested and medically cleared the alleged suspect, identified as 33-year-old, Amy Beth Pickle, was booked into Murrieta’s Cois Byrd Detention Center early the next morning.

Although sheriff’s officials stated both Pickle and the other driver were injured after Pickle drove the wrong way on Scott Road, the allegedly intoxicated woman was only charged with DUI and not DUI resulting in injury or violation of probation.

In spite of her prior DUI conviction and being on probation for that conviction, because she was not charged with anything other than DUI, Pickle was released from custody with a citation within hours of her arrest.

Additional charges could still be filed by the District Attorney’s office and Pickle is scheduled to appear at Murrieta’s Southwest Justice Center, Aug. 24.

City of Menifee Police and Fire Departments along with other emergency first responders were dispatched to the scene of the wreck about 11 p.m., Riverside Sheriff’s Sergeant Lamb explained in a press release this evening.

When officials arrived they found two wrecked cars with vehicle parts and debris scattered about the roadway. Both drivers and sole occupants of the two cars sustained minor injuries and were transported to an area hospital for further treatment.

While paramedics evaluated and treated the victims, deputies from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Menifee Police Station investigated the cause of the collision.

Deputies determined that just before the accident, Pickle had been driving eastbound on Scott and the other driver had been traveling westbound, according to Lamb.

For an unknown reason, Pickle “entered the westbound lanes and struck a vehicle head on,” said Lamb.

According to Riverside County Superior Court records, Pickle’s first DUI conviction indicated her blood alcohol content at the time of her June, 2015 arrest was higher than .20%, more than twice the legal limit. Her exact BAC was not known.

After her January, 2016 DUI conviction, Pickle was ordered to wear an ankle monitor, at her expense, for 30 days and was placed on 36 months summary probation. She was scheduled to remain on probation until January, 2019.

She was also ordered to pay just over $1700 in fines as well as victim restitution and other administrative fees totaling nearly $2,700.

After initially not making any payments, the courts issued a warrant for Pickle’s arrest and she was later ordered to pay $75 per month until the court-imposed fines and fees were paid in full. Since then, she has been making regular payments and now owes just over $450. Her next payment is due next week.

Additionally, she was ordered to attend a MADD Victim Impact Panel and First Time Offender Drinking Driver Program. She completed them February, 2016 and June, 2017, respectively.

Most importantly, she was ordered not drive with any measurable amount of alcohol or drugs in her system or drive within six hours of consuming alcohol.

No other information or details regarding Pickle’s first DUI were readily available and Menifee PD’s investigation is active and ongoing.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation or who witnessed the collision is encouraged to contact Deputy Christopher Grimm at the Menifee Police Department (951) 210-1000. Callers can refer to incident file number ME181080166 and can remain anonymous.

 

Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery, 46, recently moved to Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for Riverside County based newspapers Valley News, The Valley Chronicle and Anza Valley Outlook as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County.

Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident.

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations, including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center and Lake Elsinore Station, along with other locations.