| For Immediate Release Case # TBA December 8, 2011 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Chief of Staff Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami |
WOMAN TO BE ARRAIGNED ON CHARGES OF DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF DRUGS AND SERIOUSLY INJURING NEWPORT BEACH HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT
SANTA ANA – A woman will be arraigned today on charges of driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol and seriously injuring a Newport Harbor High School student. Marnie Jo Lippincott, 38, Costa Mesa, is charged with one felony count of driving under the influence causing bodily injury and one misdemeanor count of driving on a suspended license with a sentencing enhancement for causing brain injury and paralysis. If convicted, she faces a maximum sentence of eight years in state prison. The defendant is being held on $100,000 bail and is scheduled to be arraigned today, Dec. 8, 2011, in Department CJ-1, Central Jail, Santa Ana. The time is to be determined.
At approximately 2:53 p.m. on Dec. 6, 2011, Lippincott is accused of driving her Chevrolet Tahoe under the influence of drugs and alcohol without a license, as her license had previously been suspended by the Department of Motor Vehicles. She is accused of heading north on Irvine Avenue toward an intersection on Margaret Drive. Lippincott is accused of failing to yield for the pedestrians in the crosswalk and hitting 17-year-old Crystal M., who was leaving school with two friends.
As a result of the collision, Crystal M. was thrown several feet and suffered a brain injury. The victim was transported to Western Medical Center in Santa Ana, where she was declared to be in critical condition and was placed in a medically-induced coma.
Witnesses called 911. The Newport Beach Police Department responded to the scene, administered a series of Field Sobriety Tests on Lippincott, and found the defendant unable to safely operate a motor vehicle.
Deputy District Attorney Nancy Hayashida of the Homicide Unit is prosecuting this case.
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