The 37-year-old woman was convicted of murder Friday in a drunken driving crash that killed a 6-year-old girl and severely injured the child’s sister and mother in Santa Ana in 2012.
Jessicah Louise Cowan was found guilty of multiple counts, including murder, vehicular manslaughter, hit and run with permanent injury or death, two felony counts of driving under the influence and possession of marijuana while driving, according to a news release from the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.
The Lake Hughes woman was also convicted of having a blood alcohol content of .20 percent or more, fleeing the scene of a vehicular manslaughter and causing great bodily injury, the release stated.
On the morning of June 23, 2012, 6-year-old Osmara Meza, her 7-year-old sister Gresia, and their mother Eloisa were holding hands as the walked to Norms Restaurant for pancakes, according to prosecutors.
All three were in a crosswalk at 17th and Spurgeon streets, when Cowan blew through a red light and struck the family with her silver 2002 Lexus IS, the DA’s office stated.
When Cowan attempted to drive away, a witness used their own car to block the road, according to the release.
Osmara was pronounced dead at the scene. Gresia and her mother were transported to the hospital with traumatic brain injuries.
Cowan faces a maximum of 15 years to life in state prison at her sentencing, which was set for June 10.