Murrieta Woman Pleads Guilty in Fatal DUI Crash

A day before her 36th birthday, the driver in a May 1 crash that killed a 31-year-old Murrieta man plead guilty to vehicular manslaughter, waiving her right to a jury trial.

Nicole Elyce Campbell was the driver of a 2005 Nissan Sentra that ran off the road on Guava Street and Adams Avenue. The vehicle rolled, killing the sole passenger, Michael Leroy Keeler.

Toxicology tests ordered by the Murrieta Police Department revealed "Campbell's blood alcohol content was well above the legal limit to drive a vehicle." She was arrested May 19 by Murrieta police traffic investigators.

Campbell plead guilty July 6 to DUI gross vehicular manslaughter, a serious felony, along with the sentence-enhancing felony of inflicting great bodily injury on someone who was not an accomplice.

If convicted, Campbell could have faced up to 10 years in prison had she not plead guilty, said John Hall, spokesperson for the Riverside County District Attorney's Office.

However, Hall said that Campbell did not enter a plea bargain with the DA's office, choosing instead to plead directly to the court.

The maximum sentence Campbell could receive is six years, according to court documents. She is set to be sentenced Aug. 24.

As far as Hall could tell, Campbell had no prior convictions in Riverside County.

Campbell and Keeler were roommates at the time of the fatal crash.

Known as Mike to friends and family, Keeler's family owns Black's Towing in Murrieta, where he was also employed. He grew up in Murrieta, graduating from Murrieta Valley High School. He leaves behind a 7-year-old daughter.