Man to Be Tried in Fatal Crash

An alleged drunk driver will face manslaughter charges in connection with the death of a woman struck beside a state highway as she helped her son.

Sergio Casas, 36, of Fillmore, was charged this week with gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and being under the influence of a controlled substance--cocaine, Ventura County prosecutors said.

If convicted, he faces up to 13 years in state prison.

Casas, who remains free on bail, did not enter a plea during a court appearance Thursday. He was ordered back for arraignment Oct. 10.

On July 26, Robin McDonald-Gwaltney, 43, was picking up her son, Jason McMillan, 20, from the side of California 126 after he became stranded. She was carrying a tuxedo from her son’s Ford Mustang to her BMW when she was fatally struck by a pickup that had drifted onto the shoulder. The BMW lunged forward, pinning McMillan between his mother’s car and his Mustang, crushing his leg and pelvis.

The accident happened as family and friends were gathering for McMillan’s wedding rehearsal in Santa Paula.

Casas, a California Department of Transportation maintenance worker who was not on duty, was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving and gross vehicular manslaughter. He was later released on $50,000 bail.

After a six-week investigation by the California Highway Patrol, the case was referred this week to the Ventura County district attorney for prosecution.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Debbie Gaskell said Thursday that prosecutors have evidence to show that Casas was under the influence of cocaine at the time of the crash and had a blood-alcohol level that exceeded the legal limit for driving.