Suspect waives prelim hearing

An Orland woman accused of driving drunk, going the wrong way down Interstate 5, and causing a crash that killed her mother, has waived her right to a preliminary hearing which was scheduled for Tuesday.

Olivia Tapia, 30, of Orland, the driver of the 2007 Acura TSX her mother, Augustina Tapia, 50, of Corning, was killed in, remains out of jail on $75,000 bail.

Tapia has pleaded not guilty to felony vehicular manslaughter, and two counts of felony driving under the influence causing injury.

The crash happened around 9:55 p.m. on May 5, when Tapia, who had been at Rolling Hills Casino, wrongly entered the southbound lanes of the freeway and began traveling northbound, according to the California Highway Patrol.

As Tapia traveled in the wrong direction of the freeway she allegedly allowed the car to strike the east side of the cement bridge at Burch Creek, nearly ripping the right side of the car completely off, said CHP Sgt. Jeff Ross.

Augustina Tapia, sitting in the front passenger's seat, died as a result of the impact, the CHP reported.

Tapia is scheduled to appear in court on Aug. 28 for an arraignment.