Combining drugs and alcohol with driving can prove to be disastrous. A person driving under the influence can face more than just losing their license. They can face prison and a lifetime of guilt, especially when their decision to drink and drive claims a life.
37-year-old Jessicah Louise Cowan of Lake Hughes was convicted April 15 of second-degree murder, gross vehicular manslaughter, and several other charges. She was sentenced this past Friday to 22-years-to-life in prison.
At the time of the accident that led to the charges, Cowan had a blood-alcohol level of 0.24 percent, which is three times the legal limit of .08. Inside her Lexus, police found two mini bottles of vodka and marijuana and a pipe. The accident, which occurred on June 23, 2012, claimed the life of a six-year-old girl named Osmara Meza. Meza’s sister and mother were also struck by Cowan and suffered severe brain injuries.
In addition to the second-degree murder charges and the charge of gross vehicular manslaughter, Cowan was also convicted of two counts of hit-and-run, two counts of DUI causing injury, and driving with a blood-alcohol count of .08 or higher.
Prosecutor Mark Birney said that Cowan struck the trio at Spurgeon and 17th Street and continued driving until a witness to the accident blocked her way forward.
Cash receipts in Cowan’s purse showed that she stopped at a liquor store and bought two small bottles of vodka after arriving at Bob Hope Airport in Burbank and picking up her car. She stopped at a liquor store in Arcadia and spent a nearly identical amount, but there are no records as to what was purchased.
Cowan had no previous criminal record.
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