A Port Angeles woman under investigation for alcohol-related vehicular homicide will make her first appearance at 1 p.m. today in Clallam County Superior Court.
Marlene T. Brand, 49, is being held this morning without bond in the Clallam County jail after being arrested for investigation of driving under the influence in connection with the Monday evening death of a Bonita N. Bickford, 49, of Port Angeles,
A taxi driver was a witness to the collision. He was not involved in the wreck.
County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Jesse Espinoza said this morning he likely will seek a 72-hour jail hold on Brand at her court hearing this afternoon to allow him to review the case in preparation for filing a formal charge against her.
“There’s probably going to be substantial bail,” Espinoza said.
Brand was alcohol-impaired and driving a 1988 Chevy Beretta west on U.S. Highway 101 when she allegedly struck Bickford, State Patrol spokesman Russ Winger said this morning.
Bickford was pushing a walker south to north at 2001 E. First St. between Golf Course Road and Olympic Lodge.
She was transported from the scene by ambulance and died at Olympic Medical Center.
The State Patrol obtained a search warrant, and a blood draw was taken from Brand at the hospital, Winger said.
“They had indications of alcohol impairment, for sure,” Winger said.
“They had reason to believe she was under the influence.”
Charles Becker, owner of Green 8 Taxi LLC, said one of his cab drivers was a witness to the wreck and tried to revive Bickford with CPR, but to no avail.
Becker said the cab was kept on scene for three hours along with the car Brand was in because the cab driver was a witness.
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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5060, or at pgottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.
