| For Immediate Release September 1, 2006 |
Contact: | Susan Schroeder Public Affairs Counsel (714) 347-8408 Office (714) 323-4486 Cell |
ORANGE COUNTY GRAND JURY INDICTS DRIVER FOR KILLING MAN IN HEAD-ON CAR CRASH WHILE ON SPEED
*Victim was Orange City Councilman Steven Ambriz
SANTA ANA – The Orange County Grand Jury indicted a woman today for killing an Orange Councilman while driving under the influence of methamphetamine. Sara Lyn Ward, 30, a grocery story clerk, was indicted on charges of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, driving under the influence causing bodily injury, and possession of marijuana while driving. Ward is scheduled to be arraigned on Wednesday, September 6, 2006, in department C-5, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana. Bail is set at $1 million. If convicted, she faces 10 years in prison.
On May 25, 2006, Ward is accused of driving her 2002 Dodge Dakota pick-up truck while under the influence of methamphetamine on Santiago Canyon Road in Orange. She is accused of driving erratically, veering her car across the 12-foot asphalt median onto the wrong side of the road into oncoming traffic, and crashing head-on into a Toyota Camry. The driver of the Camry, Orange City Councilman Steven Frank Ambriz, was killed in the crash. He is survived by a wife and 3-year-old daughter. Ward is also accused of being in possession of marijuana at the time of the crash.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Rebecca Olivieri of the Felony Projects Unit is prosecuting this case.
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