| For Immediate Release August 10, 2006 |
Contact: | Susan Schroeder Public Affairs Counsel (714) 347-8408 Office (714) 323-4486 Cell |
WOMAN TO BE ARRAIGNED ON CHARGES OF CHILD ABUSE AND KILLING HER 6-YEAR-OLD SON WHILE DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE
NEWPORT BEACH – A woman charged with killing her 6-year-old son in a high speed collision will be arraigned this afternoon. Julie Anne Smith, 46, of Costa Mesa, is charged with gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, child abuse and endangerment, driving under the influence causing bodily injury, and driving with blood alcohol level of .08% or more causing bodily injury. If convicted, she faces 10 years in prison. She is scheduled to be arraigned today, August 10, 2006, at 1:30 p.m. in department H2, Harbor Justice Center, Newport Beach.
On August 8, 2006, Smith is accused of leaving a friend’s house in Laguna Niguel with her 6-year-old son, Trevor, and driving toward her Costa Mesa home while intoxicated and under the influence of alcohol. She is accused of driving 90 miles per hour on the 73 toll road and crashing her car into the guard rail while trying to pass another car. The guard rail split from the force of the crash, slicing through Smith’s car and throwing Trevor from the car onto the road. He was killed on impact.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Cameron Talley of the Homicide Unit is prosecuting this case.
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