Former Pinellas County school teacher Deborah Terrero had been out drinking at a Hudson bar on April 5, 2009.
She decided to drive home about 2 a.m.
On the way, though, a motorcycle struck the rear of her Ford Explorer as she tried to cross the three northbound lanes of U.S. 19. The impact seriously injured the motorcycle's driver, Kenneth Dillon, and killed his passenger, 37-year-old Nicole Cetrangolo of New Port Richey.
Terrero and her two passengers weren't seriously hurt.
Now, jurors are weighing whether Terrero should go to prison. The 55-year-old is charged with DUI-manslaughter, vehicular homicide and DUI with serious bodily injury.
She faces a maximum of 20 years in prison. Her trial, which started Monday, is expected to last two days.
Terrero's blood-alcohol level was measured at 0.06 -- below the 0.08 level at which a driver is presumed too impaired to drive. But tests also showed she had Xanax and methadone in her system.
In his opening statement, Assistant State Attorney Chris Jensen said the state will prove that the mix of the drugs and alcohol made Terrero too impaired to drive.
"Florida Highway Patrol troopers are going to tell you that this defendant had an odor of alcohol," Jensen said. "She was wobbly and had trouble walking and moving around. She had glassy eyes, droopy eyes. They're going to tell you she was slurring her words, she looked impaired."
In her opening statement, defense attorney Anett Lopez said Dillon had also been drinking that night – four drinks – and was speeding. She said Terrero didn't see the motorcycle and tried to avoid the crash, but couldn't.
Dillon and Cetrangolo, neither of whom was wearing a helmet, were thrown from the bike.
Terrero had been a teacher for the Pinellas County school district's hospital and homebound program until 2008.
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