Woman Arraigned in Deadly DUI Accident Case
Priscilla Susman Pleads Not Guilty to Gross Vehicular Manslaughter
Paradise Store and Grill owner Priscilla Susman — accused of driving drunk and causing a five-car accident on Highway 154 in September that left one person dead and several more injured — pleaded not guilty to three felony counts during her arraignment on Wednesday. She is charged with felony gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, two felony counts of driving under the influence of alcohol and causing injury, and a special allegation that she caused great bodily injury to more than one person.
Susman’s blood alcohol level reportedly measured 0.36 right after the accident. No prior DUI arrests were brought up during this week’s arraignment, meaning she had not been charged with one prior in the last 10 years.
According to police reports, Susman, 54, was driving westbound on the 154 toward Lake Cachuma, just west of Cold Spring Bridge, when another driver watched as she slowed down and made a U-turn in the middle of the road. Now traveling eastbound toward Santa Barbara, Susman reportedly began driving very erratically, at times crossing over the double-yellow lines into oncoming traffic.
