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Prosecutors Charge Highland Woman in JSerra Alumnus' Death

The arraignment for Ashley Selina Bryan, 24, who faces manslaughter and drunken-driving charges, is today.

 

A Highland woman is facing manslaughter and drunken-driving charges in the death of Cameron Cook, a JSerra Catholic High School alumnus who fell to his death late Saturday night in a car crash on the 57 freeway.

Ashley Selina Bryan, 24, will be arraigned today in Santa Ana. She is being held on $100,000 bail.

Prosecutors allege that Bryan was driving drunk, headed north on the 57 freeway in Orange, when she hit a disabled Chevrolet Camaro, which was stopped on the right shoulder. Cook, 18, was standing outside of the car near a guardrail, while the driver, Logan Vescio, 18, was seated inside.

When Bryan crashed, it pushed the Camaro into Cook, who was knocked backward over the guardrail. He fell about 50 to 60 feet and landed on a concrete embankment below the freeway, according to the district attorney's office.

Cook was taken to UCI Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead shortly after 5:00 a.m. Vescio suffered abrasions to his face. Bryan was also taken to the hospital for cuts and bruisers.

Prosecutors allege that about an hour and a half after the crash, Bryan had a blood alcohol level of .17 percent—more than twice the legal limit.

Bryan could face up to five years and eight months in prison if convicted on all counts: vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated without gross negligence, driving under the influence of alcohol causing bodily injury, driving with blood alcohol level of .08 percent or more causing bodily injury.

Related Topics: 57 freeway, Arraignment, Highland, and JSerra Catholic High School

candy

12:45 pm on Tuesday, April 5, 2011

This is so sad. Cameron was just starting his life when this individual just snuffed it out - all because she was unable or unwilling to say no to the bottle.

She will get a million more chances, it seems, to repeat this horrible event. Only 5 years in prison for her - if she's even convicted. And less with "good behavior", no doubt. Or maybe no jail time at all if her defense attorney gets his or her way.

I'm sure she didn't set out to hurt anyone. But she did - severely. And the best "justice" we can give Cameron and his loved ones is 5 years.

I pray that everyone who has a drinking problem will get to the nearest AA meeting immediately. Run there, crawl there, fly there. But get there. Alcoholics Anonymous. It works.

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Dessely

9:37 pm on Wednesday, April 6, 2011

I am at a lost at this moment, such a beautiful light taken so senselessly. When will this end? When will intoxicated people stop being so selfish by driving with no regard for human life.

Like a comet blazing cross the evening sky, gone too
soon

DM

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