PORT ANGELES — A Port Angeles woman is expected to face a vehicular homicide charge stemming from allegedly driving under the influence and striking a pedestrian who later died when the driver appears in Clallam County Superior Court for arraignment Thursday.
Marlene Terese Brand, 49, appeared in Superior Court on Tuesday afternoon crying and shaking. She is represented by the Clallam Public Defender.
She was arrested for investigation of driving under the influence in connection with the Monday evening death of Bonita N. Bickford, 49, of Port Angeles.
County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Jesse Espinoza said during court Tuesday that Brand’s preliminary blood-alcohol level was 0.124 when she was arrested.
Brand remained in the Clallam County jail Tuesday after her bail was set at $35,000.
Brand was alcohol-impaired and driving a 1988 Chevy Beretta west on U.S. Highway 101 when she allegedly struck Bickford, State Patrol spokesman Russ Winger said this morning.
Bickford was pushing a walker south to north at 2001 E. First St. between Golf Course Road and Olympic Lodge, Winger said.
She was transported from the scene by ambulance and died at Olympic Medical Center.
Charles Becker, owner of Green 8 Taxi LLC, said one of his cab drivers was a witness to the incident and that the driver tried to revive Bickford with CPR to no avail.
Becker said the cab was kept on scene for three hours because the cab driver was a witness.
The State Patrol obtained a search warrant, and a blood draw was taken from Brand at the hospital, Winger said.
“They had indications of alcohol impairment, for sure,” Winger said.
“They had reason to believe she was under the influence.”
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Reporter Jeremy Schwartz can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5074, or at jschwartz@peninsuladailynews.com.
Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5060, or at pgottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.
