From Bill Lindelof and Chelsea Phua:
The mother of a young woman suspected of causing a traffic accident that killed a Sacramento County sheriff's deputy Thursday said today that her family has been shaken by the incident and offered condolences for the victim's family.
Stacy Lynn Taylor (far left) was booked into Sacramento County Jail shortly before midnight where she was held in lieu of $30,000 bail, a sheriff's department news release shows. The jail Web site indicates Taylor was released from custody this morning.
Reached by telephone, the suspect's mother, Judy Taylor, said her family grieves for the family of Sgt. Kelley Lara (left), 43, a 15-year sheriff's department veteran who died Thursday in the accident.
"We are just so, so sorry," Judy Taylor said. "We are just really broken up about it. This whole thing, it was an accident. We are just so, so sorry. The family is in our thoughts and prayers. That is all I can say at this point."
Stacy Taylor, 22, was arrested by the California Highway Patrol, suspected of causing the crash that killed Lara, who was on her way to work. Taylor was booked into jail on charges of felony manslaughter and felony hit and run, a sheriff's spokesman said.
Taylor is scheduled to be arraigned at 1:30 p.m. Monday in Sacramento Superior Court.
Lara was westbound on Interstate 80 in her personal vehicle – a black Toyota MR2 – when the collision happened about 1 p.m. Thursday, California Highway Patrol and sheriff's officials say. Lara was en route to her job at the Sacramento International Airport.
Near the Longview Drive overcrossing, witnesses reported that a vehicle made an unsafe lane change into the Toyota's path, officials said.
While evading the vehicle, Lara lost control of her car, which spun clockwise and struck the left rear of a big rig that was merging on the highway from the right shoulder into the slow lane.
The 2009 Freightliner tractor/trailer was driven by a 38-year-old Connecticut man.
Lara suffered severe injuries and died at the scene.
CHP dispatchers report receiving calls of a red vehicle driving recklessly in the area before the collision. It is not clear if the red vehicle is the same one that moved into the Toyota's path, CHP Officer Lizz Dutton said.
Sacramento County Sheriff John McGinness described the loss as devastating.
"She was a very likeable, pleasant, high-energy person," McGinness said.
Lara's father worked in law enforcement, as does her husband, Don, also a Sheriff's Department sergeant.
Lara also is survived by four young children.
The Sacramento County Deputy Sheriffs' Association and its STAR 6 Foundation have set up a memorial fund in Lara's name.
Donations made to the Sgt. Kelley Lara Memorial Account can be sent to the Sacramento County Deputy Sheriffs' Association, 1700 I St., Suite 100, Sacramento, CA 95811 or Exchange Bank, 1420 Rocky Ridge Drive, Suite 190, Roseville, CA 95661. The account number for the fund is 1200015061.
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