Spring Abigail Morrissey
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY — The Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office announced that charges of vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated with gross negligence and driving under the influence causing injury were filed on October 25th against 32-year-old Santa Maria resident Spring Abigail Morrissey pursuant to an investigation into a collision occurring on the streets of Lompoc two weeks earlier.
crash scene
It was at approximately 10:20 p.m. on October 13th , on Ocean Avenue in the City of Lompoc, when, according to an unidentified Buellton Station CHP spokesperson, “Morrissey made an unsafe turn” into oncoming traffic directly into the path of 62-year-old Santa Maria resident Victoria R. Levinson.
The ensuing collision was of such impact as to require a “jaws of life” extraction to remove both drivers from their vehicles. With responders from the Santa Barbara County Fire Department, California Highway Patrol, the Lompoc Police Department, and American Medical Response on scene, Levinson was transported to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital while Morrissey was taken to Marian Medical Center in Santa Maria. Levinson expired as a result of her injuries shortly thereafter, while Morrissey was diagnosed with multiple contusions and a broken hip.
“If the defendant is found guilty of these charges, she faces a maximum of 10 years in prison,” a spokesperson for the SBCO District Attorney’s Office reported to the media. Morrissey remains in custody on all charges, with her bail set at $150,000.
Photos: Courtesy Santa Barbara County Fire Department, Santa Barbara County Jail Booking
