Crime & Safety

Woman Accused In Fatal San Ramon DUI Crash Surrenders: CHP

The Contra Costa County District Attorney's office filed two charges against Pleasanton resident Yarenit Liliana Malihan, 40, Friday night.

DUBLIN, CA — Pleasanton resident Yarenit Liliana Malihan, 40, who is facing two felony charges in connection with a fatal 2016 collision in San Ramon that killed a 3-year-old boy, surrendered to authorities in Dublin on Monday, California Highway Patrol officials said. On Friday evening, the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Homicide Unit charged Malihan with gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and driving under the influence of a drug causing injury. Malihan, who will be booked into the Martinez Detention Facility, is facing a maximum of 11 years in state prison if convicted on both charges, officials said.

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.

Find out what's happening in Pleasantonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

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.

Find out what's happening in Pleasantonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Malihan's lawyer has not yet been reached for comment. Her bail has been set at $3 million. Malihan is scheduled to be arraigned on May 23 at 8:30 a.m. in Martinez before Judge Laettner.

Previous Coverage:

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.