Jurors learn of Perla Vazquez's DUI history

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- On Friday, jurors heard about some of her prior drunk driving incidents. Although they cannot be used to determine her guilt or innocence of this crime, the testimony has been allowed so jurors can decide whether Perla Vazquez knew the dangers of driving under the influence.

Defense attorneys say Perla Vazquez is an alcoholic who began drinking at an early age. California patrol officers say Vazquez was more than twice the legal limit nearly three years ago when she slammed into a Jeep Wrangler, causing it to go down a drainage culvert and killing Frank Winslow.

An expert in the field of toxicology gave jurors an example of just how much alcohol she had to drink to reach that level. "At a minimum, the subject would have had to ingest an amount of alcohol equivalent to about 9 or 10 ounces of 86 proof whiskey," said Alan Barbour, Forensic Toxicologist.

Sarah Hutchinson doesn't know Vazquez, but several years ago while visiting a friend in North Fresno, her car was hit while it was parked. Prosecutors believe Vazquez was responsible for the hit and run. "My driver side back tire is demolished, it was totally flat, the hubcap is totally off," said Hutchinson.

Prosecutors say she Vazquez also left the accident that killed Winslow. But before that fatal crash, the Deputy District Attorney says Vazquez had five prior drunk driving related incidents. One of those arrests was in Fresno in 2010.

Officer George Santos told the court Vazquez was tailgating before she started passing other cars at a high rate of speed. "...and then accelerated to approximately 120 miles per hour, and we're still pacing the vehicle trying to match it's speed."

Santos said he and his partner couldn't keep up with Vazquez, and had to wait until she exited the freeway to pull her over. She was arrested after she failed several field sobriety tests. Officers say some of the tasks she just quit performing all altogether.

Defense attorneys say this was not an act of murder. They are hoping jurors will opt for vehicular manslaughter, which carries a lesser sentence.

The trial is expected to wrap up sometime in early July.