DRIVER ALLEGEDLY STRIKES, KILLS TEACHER WHILE UNDER INFLUENCE OF
POT

CHICO - A man who allegedly struck and killed a Chico woman as she
jogged on Oro Chico Highway just after 9 a.m. Thursday has been
arrested on suspicion of felony driving under the influence of
marijuana and vehicular manslaughter.

The victim, identified as Carrie Jean Holiman, 56, is a fifth-grade
teacher at Olive View School in Corning. A Corning Union Elementary
School District official said she has been with the district for 29
years.

She lived in the Estates Drive area, not far from where she was
struck.

Driver Jimmy Candido Flores, 25, of Chico, was arrested at the scene
of the crash, about three-fourths of a mile east of Midway, by
California Highway Patrol officers.

He was booked into the Butte County Jail in Oroville on charges of
gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and causing injury
while driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. His bail was
set at $215,000.

Officer Tony Nunes said Flores displayed objective symptoms of being
under the influence. "He also reeked of marijuana, and his tongue was
green," Nunes said.

Officials are investigating ties Flores allegedly has to a medical
marijuana grow in Butte County.

Flores claimed he was driving east on Oro Chico at about 35 mph when
one of two large dogs in the car jumped on his arms, causing him to
swerve to the right and strike Holiman.

The driver said he believed the dog was trying to reach a window to
bark at something that caught its attention.

Nunes said he had no proof the dog wasn't a factor in the tragic
accident. "Regardless of that, we have to go with the impairment," he
said.

No witnesses to the crash were located.

Nunes said Flores claimed to have grown up in Durham and knew the
local roads. He said he thought he had seen Holiman jogging in the
area on other occasions.

Flores told investigators he noticed the jogger Thursday morning, and
said she was running close to the traffic lane.

Nunes said an on-scene investigation showed that Flores' vehicle
traveled about four feet into a gravel shoulder and said the woman
appeared to be well off the roadway.

Investigators said Holiman's body was thrown about 100 feet, and have
some doubt about the speed Flores said he was traveling. Flores has a
previous felony DUI conviction, the CHP said.