Woman pleads guilty as second trial is set to begin in case involving DUI crash that killed four people near Pala Casino

VISTA - A woman who was under the influence of alcohol and methamphetamine when she crashed head-on into a car near the Pala Casino, killing two couples, pleaded guilty today to gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and DUI causing injury.

Deanna Fridley, 27, changed her plea Tues., Jan. 17, the day her second trial was to begin.

A mistrial was declared in July 2010 when a lone juror was unconvinced that Fridley was driving her GMC Yukon Denali when it crossed the center line and smashed head-on into another car, killing four friends out for night of

dinner and gambling at two North County casinos.

Judge Runston Maino was expected to sentence Fridley to 18 years in prison at a hearing Feb. 22.

Fridley was originally charged with murder. Prosecutor Brenda Daly said the victims' families were consulted before the defendant's change of plea.

According to the prosecution, Fridley spent part of Dec. 14, 2007, drinking alcohol and smoking methamphetamine with her best friend, Amber Arviso, who herself was responsible for injuring several people in an alcohol-related collision about a month earlier.

The women were joined by a man named Anthony Boles, and Arviso was later left behind after an argument.

Fridley and Boles were returning to pick up Arviso when the crash occurred just before midnight on a curve on State Route 76, about three miles from the casino, prosecutors said.

The two couples were on their way home when Luis De Santiago's Toyota Camry was struck head-on by Fridley's SUV.

De Santiago, his wife Lina, Luis Baez and his wife Rubi were killed.

Fridley and Boles were pulled from the flaming Yukon and hospitalized with broken bones. Her blood-alcohol level was .12 percent, and she tested positive for meth, authorities said.

Fridley testified at her first trial that she drove her SUV around much of the day, but switched seats with Boles after realizing she was too "messed up" to drive.

Boles testified that he was not driving when the crash occurred.

(previous story, Tues., Jan. 17, 2012, 7 a.m.)

Jury selection to get underway today in second trial of woman accused of DUI that killed four people near Pala Casino

VISTA - Jury selection is set to get under way today for the second trial of a 27-year-old woman accused of driving under the influence and causing a crash that killed four people near the Pala Casino in 2007.

A mistrial was declared in Deanna Sherelle Fridley's first trial in July 2010, when jurors deadlocked 11-1. A lone female juror wasn't convinced Fridley was the driver of the GMC Yukon that crossed a double-yellow line and crashed into a car carrying Luis De Santiago and his wife, Lina, and Luis Baez and his spouse, Rubi.

Fridley is charged with four counts of murder, DUI causing injury and a misdemeanor count of driving on a suspended license. She faces four 15-year-to- life prison terms if convicted.

According to the prosecution, Fridley spent part of Dec. 14, 2007, drinking alcohol and smoking methamphetamine with her best friend, Amber Arviso, who herself was responsible for injuring several people in an alcohol- related collision about a month earlier.

The women were allegedly joined by a man named Anthony Boles, and Arviso was later left behind after an argument.

Fridley and Boles were returning to pick up Arviso when the crash happened just before midnight on a curve on state Route 76, about three miles from the casino, the prosecution alleged.

The two couples were on their way home from a night of gambling when Luis De Santiago's Toyota Camry was struck head-on by Fridley's SUV.

Fridley and Boles were pulled from the flaming Yukon and hospitalized with broken bones. Her blood-alcohol level was .12 percent, and she tested positive for meth, authorities said.

Fridley testified at her first trial that she drove her SUV around much of the day, but switched seats with Boles after realizing she was too ''messed up'' to drive.

Boles testified that he was not driving when the crash occurred.

Last Aug. 22, Fridley's sister was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver.

Candice Marie Nelson, a 25-year-old mother of three, was fatally struck while walking along the shoulder of state Route 76, near Palomar Mountain. Escondido resident Rickey Lester Burns later pleaded guilty to a hit-and-run charge and was sentenced to a year in jail.