A Hemet woman with two previous convictions for driving under the influence was arrested on suspicion of murder on Monday, Nov. 24, after authorities said she again was illegally impaired and caused a collision that killed a Murrieta resident.
Erica Pearl Machuca, 33, also was accused of driving under the influence with a 0.08 blood-alcohol level or higher causing injury, and driving under the influence causing injury. She was being held at the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in Banning in lieu of $1 million bail. She had not been charged as of Wednesday.
Debra Amicay, 56, died in the crash that happened just after 9 p.m. on Palomar Street near Clinton Keith Road in Wildomar.
The other driver was hospitalized in critical condition.
The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department would not say in whose car Amicay was riding, citing the ongoing investigation.
Machuca pleaded guilty in 2012 in an agreement with the District Attorney’s Office to a misdemeanor count of driving with a blood-alcohol content of 0.08 or higher. A court document lists her BAC at 0.12. She was sentenced to three years of probation and was ordered to pay $1,664 in penalties as well as complete a first-time DUI offender’s program, said Molly Smith, a DA’s spokeswoman.
And in 2022, Machuca pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of driving under the influence of both alcohol and drugs, a court document shows. The plea deal with the DA’s Office included three years of probation, $1,703 in fines and another DUI offender’s program.
She completed both counseling programs, court records show. Her probation ended this past July.
Machuca could be charged with second-degree murder. DUI offenders in California are given the so-called Watson advisement in which they sign a document that states they could be charged with murder if they drive while impaired again and kill someone. The crime carries a maximum penalty of 15 years to life in state prison.
