Woman Accused Of Killing Two Men In Hemet DUI Wreck

BANNING, CA — A convicted felon accused in the deaths of two young men in a DUI crash in Hemet pleaded not guilty Tuesday to two counts of second- degree murder.

Faalele Rosemarie Patea, 25, of Moreno Valley is charged in the May 1 deaths of Beaumont residents Joshua Serquina and Kyle Towai, both 22 .

Along with the murder counts, Patea is charged with sentence-enhancing allegations of committing a violent felony within five years of parole from state prison.

She was arraigned before Riverside County Superior Court Judge Becky Dugan, who scheduled a felony settlement conference for July 18 at the Banning Justice Center.

The defendant is being held in lieu of $1 million bail at the Robert Presley Jail in Riverside.

According to Hemet police Sgt. Dan Reinbolt, the victims' Honda Civic was slowing for a red traffic signal on Florida Avenue at Warren Road when Patea approached from behind, allegedly traveling 100 mph in her Volkswagen Jetta, about 9 p.m. Reinbolt alleged that the ex-con never slowed down, rear- ending the Honda and pushing it into another car.

Serquina and Towai suffered catastrophic injuries, and both were taken to Riverside University Medical Center in Moreno Valley, where Serquina was pronounced dead on arrival. Towai survived on life support for two days before he succumbed to his injuries.

The parties in the third vehicle were not hurt, nor was Patea.

Reinbolt alleged that a field sobriety test conducted at the scene of the wreck confirmed the defendant was under the influence.

According to court records, she has prior convictions for domestic violence and assault resulting in great bodily injury.

— By City News Service