A 22-year-old woman killed in a head-on crash on Highway 99 in Tehama County on Tuesday afternoon was pregnant, increasing the charges against the responsible driver. The CHP and prosecutors say the crash was alcohol related. 43-year-old Andre Tucker of Chico was driving a Ford Expedition southbound on Highway 99 south of Tehama-Vina Road at high speed when he lost control and crossed into the northbound lane and struck a Honda Accord driven by Mima Rodriguez of Gerber, who had minor injuries. The big SUV then smashed head-on into a Toyota Prius driven by a 22-year-old pregnant woman from Chico. She and her unborn child were pronounced dead at the scene. Tucker’s injuries were minor. He was arraigned Thursday on charges that include 2 counts of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated. He’s being held without bail.
-Steve Gibson