Man arrested on suspicion of DUI, manslaughter after car crashes into Rancho Cordova home

A man was arrested on suspicion of plowing his car into a Rancho Cordova home now faces four felony charges for killing an elderly woman and injuring two family members who were watching the 49ers’ NFC championship football game Sunday afternoon.

In a news release, the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office said Gary Lloyd Circle, 45, of Rancho Cordova was taken into custody after a Kia Optima crashed into a house on the 10300 block of Georgetown Drive.

Circle is believed to have been intoxicated, the Sheriff’s Office said.

The crash occurred around 4:30 p.m. when the Kia slipped between two trees in the front yard and rammed straight through the living room where the unsuspecting family members were watching football.

The woman, who was in her 80s, suffered fatal injuries, while a man in his 50s and a 45-year-old woman were pinned beneath the car.

Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District personnel responded to the scene and pulled the two from the wreckage. The elderly woman was pronounced dead at the scene.

The two middle-aged victims were transported to hospitals, where they are expected to survive, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

Neighbors told The Sacramento Bee on Sunday that the area is prone to traffic accidents due to speeding and visibility issues.

“Too many people speed down Coloma Road,” Lisa Gallegos said. “There’s a lot of accidents right there. I think they need to do something to get people to slow down. This is the second time someone has plowed into this house.

Circle was booked into the Sacramento County jail on suspicion of DUI and vehicular manslaughter. He’s also facing a charge of endangering the life of a child – neighbors told The Bee they saw two children in the back seat of the Kia after the crash.

He’s being held in lieu of $1 million bail, and will appear in court Tuesday afternoon.

Circle has several criminal convictions involving theft, drugs and forgery in Spokane, Washington, and San Bernardino County. He was also sentenced to six years in prison in 2004 for burglary in Los Angeles County.

The name of the elderly victim will be released by the Sacramento County Coroner pending notification of next of kin.

The Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone with information regarding the crash to call 916-874-5115.

This story was originally published January 20, 2020 at 9:17 AM.