Woman charged in death of Orland teen pleads not guilty

The woman accused in the 2008 drunken driving death of an Orland woman pleaded not guilty earlier this week in Riverside County Superior Court.

Elva Diaz pleaded not guilty Monday in Southern California to charges of murder, vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and driving on a suspended license for a prior DUI conviction, authorities confirmed.

Diaz, 31, of Corona, is charged with the death of 18-year-old Rachel Elliot.
Riverside County prosecutors believe on Feb. 21, 2008, Diaz was driving in the wrong traffic lane while under the influence of alcohol, when she smashed into Elliot’s car head-on.

Elliot, who graduated from Orland High School in 2007, died the following morning at a hospital in Wildomar.

At the time of her death, Elliot was attending the University of California, Irvine, working toward a career as a forensic investigator.

Diaz’s blood-alcohol level was reportedly .20, more than twice the legal limit, prosecutors said.

Diaz, a former emergency medical technician and ambulance driver, was arrested following the crash, but after posting bail, reportedly fled to Mexico to avoid prosecution.

Diaz reportedly sought refuge from family members in a tiny remote town about three hours outside Guadalajara, where she was arrested by the Riverside fugitive task force, authorities said.

John Hall, a spokesman for the Riverside prosecutors office, said Diaz is due back in court Sept. 7 for a settlement conference.

Prosecutors expect the case will likely go to trial.

“Murder charges are taken very seriously,” Hall said. “We don’t anticipate any plea deal.”