File photo.

PREVIOUSLY

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A woman who faces criminal charges for striking a pedestrian with her car in Eureka while intoxicated allegedly admitted to police she shouldn’t have been driving, according to prosecutors. Police believe she was driving on methamphetamines and cannabis, a prosecutor alleged in court today.

A hearing aimed to determine whether Raeleen Olson, 55, would be released while awaiting trial. Her attorney argued that, with the woman having no criminal record, she should be put on house arrest as the case against her moves forward.

But a judge found a substantial likelihood that Olson is a danger to the public, and determined she would remain in jail, without the option of posting bail.

Olson is accused of striking 35-year-old James Christopher Lee, who was crossing Broadway last week. He died Sunday night.

Following his death, prosecutors are waiting for additional information, like Lee’s official cause of death and surveillance footage. Deputy District Attorney Brandon Boozari, speaking in court today, said they’re working to see if there’s evidence to support a claim of “gross negligence.”

Boozari, who argued she should remain in jail, pointed to police reports from the crash. He said an officer conducted four field sobriety tests, and a preliminary screening found amphetamines and cannabis in her system (a blood draw was also taken). He alleged police found 0.74 grams of meth on her person and concentrated cannabis in her car.

He also said Olson admitted to consuming drugs when speaking with police, and admitted to police she should not have been operating a motor vehicle. Pointing to this evidence, along with a 1993 DUI and more recent convictions for driving without a license, he said she should remain in jail, with the victim paying the “ultimate price” due to her decisions.

Olson’s attorney, Deputy Public Defender Ehvan Schectman, emphasized “there is no argument about the tragic loss of life” as he sought for her to be released while awaiting trial.

He pitched to the court that Olson should be put on house arrest, where her housemates (who came to the hearing to support her) could help ensure she complies with court directives.

He pointed out that, as she is charged now, there is no homicide allegation, and argued there would be no danger to the community if she’d be released. While it was horrible and tragic, he said, he called the crash an isolated incident in the woman’s life.

But Judge Heather Durand was not convinced. She found that the woman remains a danger, and that no conditions short of keeping her in custody were sufficient.

She also removed the option for her to post bail, which previously was set at $75,000.

A preliminary hearing is tentatively scheduled for October 28, though it will likely be pushed out as attorneys gather evidence.