'Least Drunk' Driver Who Killed Woman Took Xanax Before Fatal Highway 101 Crash: DA

SAN MATEO, CA — A Gilroy man accused of driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs in a San Mateo crash that killed a woman on U.S. Highway 101 last year pleaded no contest to multiple charges this week, according to prosecutors. Isaac Barrios was driving two of his friends home from a party at the time, and was selected to be the driver "because he was the least drunk," according to the San Mateo County District Attorney's Office.

After drinking whiskey and smoking marijuana at a party on Treasure Island on Dec. 10, 2016, Barrios hit the road around 4:30 a.m., according to prosecutors. Meanwhile, 24-year-old Kiran Ram was also on the road that morning. She had hydroplaned and crashed on southbound 101.

Barrios crashed into her at roughly 80 mph on southbound Highway 101 near Third Avenue in San Mateo, according to the San Mateo County District Attorney's Office. Ram died at the scene.

The two passengers in Barrios' vehicle were also seriously injured, prosecutors said.

Barrios was found to have a blood-alcohol content of 0.11 percent. Marijuana was allegedly found in his backpack, and he had also consumed a Xanax bar prior to driving, prosecutors said.

At the time of the crash, his driver's license had allegedly been suspended because of previous crashes.

Barrios pleaded no contest to felony drunk driving causing death and felony drunk driving causing great bodily injury to multiple victims on Tuesday. He faces up to seven years and eight months in prison when he returns to court for sentencing on Nov. 22, prosecutors said.

Barrios remains in custody on $500,000 bail. His attorney David Franklin did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the case.

Bay City News Service contributed to this report / Image via Shutterstock