A 36-year-old Redding man will be tried on charges that include second degree murder for a head-on collision that killed a woman on Highway 44. The crash happened on the afternoon of last August 3rd just west of South Cow Creek Road 4 miles east of Millville. Matthew David Castaneda was passing cars but ran out of room and crashed head-on into a Mini Cooper occupied by two Shingletown women. The driver, 74-year-old Ellen Berblinger, is still recovering from extensive injuries. The passenger, 81-year-old Evelyn Blake, died of her injuries 10 days later. Castaneda was hospitalized with moderate injuries. The D.A.’s Office says he had a blood-alcohol level of .11% about two hours after the crash and admitted to recent use of methamphetamine, marijuana and prescription pain killers. Castaneda vanished for 3 months and was wanted until district attorney investigators caught up with him in November. He has a prior conviction for alcohol-related reckless driving in 2008, and another for drunk driving in 2014. He was ordered to stand trial during his preliminary hearing Wednesday. He’ll be back in court March 6th.
There is no custom code to display.
There is no custom code to display.
