BRIEF: A 70-year-old man charged with drunken driving, vehicular manslaughter in Walnut Creek attorney’s death [Contra Costa Times, Walnut Creek, Calif.]

Aug. 12--MARTINEZ -- A 70-year-old man has been charged with driving under the influence and killing Walnut Creek attorney as she was walking on Treat Boulevard near her home last month.

Ruel Sasser, of Concord, was charged this week with three felonies: vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, driving under the influence causing injury, and driving with a blood-alcohol level over .08, Contra Costa County deputy district attorney Steven Bolen said. An arraignment date and a bail amount will be set once Sasser surrenders himself on the charges.

Walnut Creek police said Kathleen Moorhead, 57, was walking on a sidewalk on Treat Boulevard near Bancroft Road about 6 p.m. on July 17 when a pickup truck driven by Sasser jumped a sidewalk curb and stuck her. Sasser had lost control of his vehicle while traveling east and had swerved into westbound lanes before correcting back and driving onto the sidewalk, police said.

Moorland died from her injuries at a hospital about a half-hour after the accident. State records show she was employed as an attorney for Fidelity National Financial in Walnut Creek.

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