YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – A young Wellton woman involved in a drunken wrong-way crash that killed a man in the Fortuna foothills is facing eight felonies, including second-degree murder.

Chiara Gomez, 22, is charged with eight felonies, including one count of second-degree murder, as well as several counts of aggravated DUI and wrong-way driving.

“This individual was traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes of Interstate 8 and skidded his vehicle near milepost 12,” said Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) spokesman Bart Graves.

DPS spokesperson Bart Graves detailed what happened last September.

“The wrong-way driver continued going the wrong way and now collided head-on with the SUV at milepost 10. Then a gray pickup truck rear-ended the black SUV,” Graves said.

The drivers of the car and SUV were taken to a Phoenix hospital, where the driver of the SUV died from his injuries.

Gomez was booked into the Yuma County Jail on Wednesday, January 10th.

Graves explained why it took nearly four months to make an arrest.

“As I understand it, she received extensive treatment for her injuries, and once she was released from the hospital, detectives could have arrested her and booked her into jail,” Graves said. he explained.

This is not Gomez's first run-in with the law.

The 22-year-old has two previous traffic-related citations, including exceeding the maximum speed limit on an interstate outside a city and exceeding 15 mph in a school zone, both of which she was found guilty of. I admit it.

Graves said there is no excuse for anyone to drink and drive.

“Ride-sharing services exist and there are many ways to get around if you've had too much to drink and can't get behind the wheel,” Graves said.

Gomez appeared in court Thursday morning, but his next court appearance has not yet been set.

She is currently being held on $100,000 bail.