3 women killed by suspected DUI driver in Visalia identified

A Corcoran woman was booked by the California Highway Patrol Sunday night on charges of driving under the influence after she was involved in a head-on collision on Highway 99 in which three people died.

The women were identified by the Tulare County Coroner as Maria Rivas, 67, the driver; Eva Lopez, 75, and Veronica Macias, 45, all of Northridge.

The Corcoran driver was identified as Brenda Garcia, 23. The crash took place just before 7:30 p.m. The CHP said Garcia drove a 2014 Ford north on 99 in the southbound lanes of the freeway. She collided with a 2018 Nissan driven by Rivas.

The Kern County Coroner’s Office said that at least one of the passengers, Macias, was taken to Delano Regional Medical Center where she died of her injuries.

Garcia was taken to Kaweah Delta Medical Center with major injuries.

This story was originally published October 15, 2018 at 7:29 AM.