A Kennewick woman charged in a fatal crash last year had her bail increased to $200,000 because of substance abuse concerns while she was out of custody.

Lori Ann Christensen, 48, has been in the Franklin County jail awaiting her Sept. 21 trial since she was surrendered Aug. 22 by a bail bondsman.

She is charged in Franklin County Superior Court with vehicular homicide, alleging that she was under the influence when she drove in a reckless manner, killing Orlando Abarca-Rivera.

It was initially believed that her bond was pulled because Christensen had made statements that she was going to leave town before trial.

Lawyer Bob Thompson said after further investigation, he learned that his client's mother had concerns for Christensen's safety, particularly with alcohol or drugs. Yet there's nothing to back up those claims, said Thompson, noting that Christensen has worn an alcohol-monitoring bracelet and been subject to random urine testing.

The $100,000 bail amount "is just plenty," he argued, especially since Christensen has no resources to bond out.

But Deputy Prosecutor Brian Hultgrenn, in asking for $250,000 bail, said the bondsman felt Christensen was a flight risk on a serious homicide case. He also noted that she has an "extensive criminal history" with drugs and no longer has the financial backing of her mother.

Christensen was behind the wheel of a car early Sept. 24 when it slammed head-on into another car. She had just pulled out of a Motel 6 parking lot onto Oregon Avenue and crossed the center line, according to police and court documents.

Abarca-Rivera, 35, of Pasco, died in the 5:30 a.m. crash.

Christensen told police that she'd had a couple of beers the night before, and a firefighter at the scene reported smelling alcohol on her, documents said.

Christensen was reportedly late for work delivering newspapers for her husband, who was an independent contractor for the Tri-City Herald.