Prosecutors Charge Highland Woman in JSerra Alumnus' Death

A Highland woman is facing manslaughter and drunken-driving charges in the death of 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.