A single-vehicle crash on River Road on Monday evening left one woman dead, a toddler in the hospital, and a Seaside driver under arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence. The wreck, just south of Salinas, has rattled local residents and remains the focus of an active California Highway Patrol investigation.
According to a CHP press release reported by CBS News, the crash happened at about 5:32 p.m. on northbound River Road, north of Gonzalez River Road, when a white Nissan SUV left the roadway, slammed into a power pole, and rolled. Investigators said the collision stemmed from the driver’s level of intoxication. A 23-year-old passenger who was not wearing a seatbelt was ejected from the vehicle and killed, and a 2-year-old boy in the SUV was hospitalized. CHP has asked anyone with information to call the Monterey Area office at (831) 770-8000 or email [email protected].
Local identification and booking
Local reporting and jail records identified the driver as 23-year-old Seaside resident Aja Hill and the woman who died as Nicole Biihler, as reported by KSBW. The station reported that Hill was treated at Natividad Medical Center, then booked into the Monterey County Jail on multiple counts, including DUI causing bodily injury, DUI with 0.08% or higher causing bodily injury, vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence, and alleged child abuse with possible great bodily injury or death. Her bail was set at $50,000. The crash remains under investigation.
Legal next steps
If the Monterey County District Attorney's Office formally files those counts, they could carry felony-level penalties. Prosecutors will review the CHP investigation and related jail records before deciding whether to bring charges. If they move forward, an arraignment date will be set, and the case will proceed through the county court system.
