Newhall Woman Charged in Fatal Sun Valley Motorcycle Collision

A Newhall woman was charged Thursday in the death of a 20-year-old motorcyclist in an alleged drunk driving accident in Sun Valley that left a motorcycle passenger in critical condition, the California Highway Patrol said.

Patricia Lee Giunta, 40, was released on $2,500 bail after she was arrested on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter in the death of David Jaggs, 20, Officer Robert Koetting said.

Jaggs, who had recently moved to Sherman Oaks from Windsor, Ontario, died at Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills after the accident Wednesday night on the Golden State Freeway near Tuxford Street, Koetting said.

Janine McMurdie, 20, also from Windsor, remained in critical condition Thursday at the same hospital, a spokeswoman said.

Jaggs and McMurdie were hit from behind by the truck driven by Giunta, Koetting said. It had just entered the freeway when the accident occurred, he said.

Giunta, who was not injured, failed a field sobriety test after the accident, Koetting said. The results of a blood alcohol test were not complete, he said. Giunta is scheduled to be arraigned Oct. 26 in San Fernando Municipal Court, he said.