Woman Accused In Deadly San Ramon DUI Crash Pleads Not Guilty

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA — A Pleasanton woman accused of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and driving under the influence of a drug causing injury in a suspected DUI crash that killed a 3-year-old in San Ramon pleaded not guilty in Contra Costa County Superior Court Tuesday morning, officials at the district attorney’s office said. Pleasanton resident Yarenit Liliana Malihan, 40, who is facing two felony charges in connection with a fatal 2016 collision, surrendered to CHP investigators in Dublin on Monday.

Malihan is facing a maximum of 11 years in state prison if convicted on both charges, officials said. Her bail has been set at $3 million. She will be back in court on June 15.

Malihan, the wife of an Alameda County sheriff’s deputy, was arrested on Sept. 9, 2016, by CHP officers after the crash on Interstate 680 near Bollinger Canyon Road that took the life of Elijah Dunn, 3, and seriously injured the boy's siblings and mother, who were stopped in their car on the side of the freeway.

The district attorney’s office alleges that Malihan, whose toxicology reports revealed the presence of drugs in her blood, lost control of her vehicle and collided with the vehicle stopped on the shoulder.

Following her September arrest, Malihan was treated for minor injuries at San Ramon Regional Medical Center and booked into the county jail. Malihan was driving on a provisional license the night of the tragic crash as the result of another alleged DUI-related crash in Pleasanton in June. According to Alameda County court records, Malihan was arrested in that case in June 2016 and faces three charges, including child cruelty and driving under the influence, which were filed in August.

Malihan was recently arrested again – this time in Pleasanton on suspicion of public intoxication, according to police records. The Pleasanton Police Department arrest log shows Malihan was arrested at 2:47 p.m. on May 12 in the 5500 block of West Las Positas.

Malihan's lawyer has not yet been reached for comment.

Previous Coverage:

• Charges Expected Soon Against Woman Suspected In Fatal San Ramon DUI Crash: DA
• Deadly DUI Suspect Arrested On Public Intoxication Charge In Pleasanton
• Alleged DUI Crash That Killed San Ramon Toddler Sent to DA's Office: CHP

Photo courtesy Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office