CALIFORNIA: Jacques Clarke charged with DUI murder of Rosie Figueroa in rear-end DUI crash

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Jacques Clarke (Photo: PROVIDED/MONTEREY COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE)

CALIFORNIA: Jacques Clarke charged with DUI murder of Rosie Figueroa in rear-end DUI crash

FROM THE CALIFORNIAN: A Carmel teenager is in custody after authorities say he killed a Salinas woman while driving under the influence. 

Jacques Clarke, 18, pleaded not guilty Monday to DUI and vehicular manslaughter charges, in a crash on Davis Road that killed Rosie Figueroa, 38, authorities say. 

Clarke was driving his 2015 Mazda 6 at about 11:30 p.m. Friday on Davis Road when he rear-ended a 2012 Toyota Camry driven by Figueroa, according to the California Highway Patrol. 

Officers said he was driving fast when he hit the Camry, which spun out of control, overturned and hit a large tree before landing on its roof.  MORE

FROM KSBW
SALINAS, Calif. —

A family’s desperate plea this holiday is warning people not to drink and drive. This coming after a teenager under the influence is accused of killing 38-year-old Rosie Figueroa in a car crash in Salinas, Friday night.

For the family, this is not the holiday tradition they are used to. With the support of family and friends, they’re trying to get through this tough time by living through the memories of Rosie Figueroa.

“Rosie, wow. The first thing that comes to mind is, she’s a fireball,. Full of spirit, life, passion, courage,” said Rosie’s brother, Socrates Figueroa, brother of Rosie.

“A great person, her daughter was a great person,” said Rosie’s uncle Luis Duran.

Rosie’s mother Sylvia Nazario said her daughter, “taught me things about myself, taught me things about life … taught me things how to raise her daughter.”

Rosie was driving northbound on Davis Road. The California Highway Patrol said 18-year-old Jacques Clarke was driving under the influence of alcohol and rear-ended Figueroa’s car.

Her Goddaughters Alexis and Alyssa Nazario said Rosie was, “loud, everyone knew who she was. Very tough.” MORE

 Prosecutors are charging the accused teenage driver, Jacques Clarke, with a DUI and vehicular manslaughter. His bail is set at $380,000. He is due back in court on January 10.