Murrieta Woman Sentenced in Fatal DUI Crash

A 36-year-old Murrieta woman was sentenced today for driving while drunk, causing the death of a 31-year-old Murrieta father.

Nicole Elyce Campbell had agreed to be the designated driver for Mike Keeler the night he died, but had a blood alcohol content of .22, said Judge Angel Bermudez before sentencing her to four years.

"The most aggravating is that she was the designated driver," Bermudez said.

Bermudez referred several times to a probation report that spelled out the events leading up to the fatal crash early May 1. Campbell had agreed to give Keeler a ride home from on Madison Avenue, where he had spent the evening drinking.

Campbell and Keeler, who were roommates, were headed home toward Washington Avenue. When Campbell rounded a curve in the road at Adams Avenue and Guava Street, she lost control and drove into a drainage canal, according to traffic investigators with the Murrieta Police Department. Keeler died of blunt force trauma and Campbell sustained undisclosed injuries.

The probationer's report, taken from conversations with Campbell, showed she purposefully drank water to dilute her blood alcohol content. It also stated she refused to take a preliminary alcohol screening at the accident.

"It does take a substantial amount of tolerance to reach .22...we are talking about 11 drinks in her system at the time," Bermudez said.

The report also stated Campbell told officers that street lights were out on the roadway, which confused her. Investigators, however, said the lights were in working condition the night of the accident.

The Murrieta police traffic investigators who arrested Campbell were present for the sentencing. Campbell's mother and several of her friends also sat in the courtroom.

The deceased's mother and grandmother each gave statements before Campbell was sentenced.

Keeler's mother, Joy Whittelsey, said Campbell sent texts to her son that night, saying she'd only had one drink and could drive him home safely.

"I know for a fact that Mike had done the right thing and gotten a designated driver," Whittelsey said. "Nikki said she had one drink at the pizza place. Nikki made her choice and that can not be undone."

Whittelsey told the judge that Keeler's father died when Keeler was 9. Raising his own daughter, 8-year-old Taylor, was a priority to him, she said.

She went on to say she has forgiven Campbell.

"I do believe in my heart that she is remorseful," Whittelsey said. "Mike was a very forgiving person and I know he would have wanted us to forgive her."

Keeler's grandmother, Ione Olson, said when Keeler was alive, he would call her at least once a day to check up on her.

"I miss those calls most of all," Olson said. In between tears, she went on to say that Campbell's family must be hurting, too.

"We forgive Nikki, but it is hard to forget," she said.

Campbell, who worked as a special education instructional aide at Vista Murrieta High School before the fateful night, spoke last. Handcuffed and dressed in a blue prisoner's outfit, Campbell read from a piece of paper.

She apologized to his family.

"I see him in my dreams; I wish it had been me, not him that night," Campbell said, sobbing.

"It will not go away; it does not get any better," she said. "His daughter is the true victim in this and I can't express how sorry I am."

When she finished speaking, she crumpled up the piece of paper.

With no prior convictions for substance abuse and no sentence enhancements, Bermudez gave the minimum sentence of four years. He denied probation in the case, saying Campbell showed a "sophisticated" criminal attempt to conceal her substance abuse.

In July, Campbell pleaded guilty to DUI gross vehicular manslaughter, waiving her right to a jury trial.

"I do believe her remorse is genuine," the judge said today. "I do see that she admitted wrongdoing to save the stress of a trial on the family and on the community."