Crime & Safety

UPDATED: Woman Accused Of Menlo Couple's Death in Court Today

The victims, who have three teenage children, died at the scene.

UPDATE 5:20PM Tuesday

The arraignment of a 53-year-old woman accused of killing a Menlo Park couple in a drunken driving crash last week has been postponed for a second day in a row, the district attorney said Tuesday.

Marjorie Reitzell first complained of chest pains on Monday and was not cleared to appear in San Mateo County Superior Court again today, San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said. Her arraignment has been rescheduled to Wednesday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. and prosecutors were handling the situation "day-by-day," Wagstaffe said.

Reitzell, who is being held on $2 million bail, has been charged with two counts of gross vehicular manslaughter and two counts of DUI causing injury in connection with Thursday's collision, Wagstaffe said.

At around 7 p.m., Reitzell -- whose blood alcohol level was reported to be more than twice the legal limit -- drifted into the bike lane on Chilco Road and struck 45-year-old Kamal Singh and 50-year-old Balbir Singh from behind, throwing the couple into the air, according to Menlo Park police Cmdr. Dave Bertini.

The couple, who had been walking their pet Chihuahua, died at the scene.

Wagstaffe said Reitzell continued driving and struck a car carrying four teenagers, causing minor injuries. She then crashed into a tree, where she was found by first responders and taken into custody by police.

The Singhs leave behind three teenage children.

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(Original article)
A 53-year-old woman accused of drunken driving and killing a Menlo Park couple walking their dog last week is scheduled to appear in San Mateo County Superior Court this afternoon, according to the district attorney's office.

Marjorie Reitzell, of Redwood City, allegedly had a blood-alcohol level of more than twice the legal limit of .08 percent when her 1998 Honda veered into the bike lane on Chilco Street at about 7 p.m. on Thursday, San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said.

Reitzell, who was on probation for a 2012 DUI conviction, struck 45-year-old Kamal Singh, and 50-year-old Balbir Singh from behind, throwing the couple into the air, according to Menlo Park police Cmdr. Dave Bertini.

The victims, who have three teenage children, died at the scene. The Singhs' dog was injured in the collision and was taken to the Peninsula Humane Society for treatment.

Wagstaffe said Reitzill continued driving and struck a car carrying four teenagers, causing minor injuries. She then crashed into a tree, where she was found by first responders and taken into custody by police.

Reitzill has been charged with two counts of gross vehicular manslaughter and two counts of DUI causing injury, Wagstaffe said. She is being held in San Mateo County Jail on $2 million bail.

Reitzill was due to be arraigned on Monday, but asked for a continuance due to a medical issue just before the proceeding, Wagstaffe said.

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