Drunken, drugged driver gets 18 years for fatal crash that killed two couples

VISTA - A woman who was drunk and high on methamphetamine when she crashed a GMC Yukon head-on into a Toyota Camry near the Pala Casino in 2007 - - killing two couples -- was sentenced today to 18 years in prison.

Deanna Fridley, 27, pleaded guilty last month to gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and DUI causing injury.

The two couples -- best friends for about 15 years -- were on their way home after dinner and gambling when Luis De Santiago's Camry was struck head-on by Fridley's SUV. De Santiago, his wife Lina, Luis Baez and his wife Rubi were killed.

Between them, the couples had five children and one grandchild.

''This just created terrible devastation to all of the family members,'' Deputy District Attorney Brenda Daly said. ''Kids had to immediately become parents of their younger siblings, and they had to go through a lot -- a whole lot.''

Luis Baez's sister, Maria Owens addressed the court, directing her comments at Fridley.

''It was not a mistake for you,'' she said. You knew perfectly well what you were doing.''

Owens said her brother was a gentle soul who friends called ''the saint.''

Jessica De Santiago told the judge that life without her parents has been difficult.

''I find myself lifeless and with no energy,'' she said, adding that her parents and their friends were ''amazing'' people who followed the rules and ''wouldn't hurt a flea.''

Fridley turned toward the victims' families as she addressed the court.

''I'm very sorry for the pain and suffering your families have been through,'' the defendant said. ''I'm sorry.''

A mistrial was declared on murder charges in July 2010 when a juror was unconvinced that Fridley was driving the GMC Yukon Denali that struck Toyota head-on.

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.

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.