Woman faces prison over Fourth of July crash

SAN FERNANDO - A 23-year-old Canyon Country woman accused of driving into a crowd - killing one and injuring several others - during a fireworks show pleaded no contest Monday.Melissa Brigette Brown pleaded no contest to one count of vehicular manslaughter. An infraction for failure to stop at a red light was dismissed. Brown is expected to be sentenced Nov. 9. She faces up to six years in prison. On July 4, 2010, Brown collided with another vehicle after she ran a red light. Brown lost control of her vehicle and careened into a crowd of spectators gathered to watch a fireworks display. Matilda Garncia, 43, who was standing on a sidewalk, was killed in the crash. Several others sustained minor injuries.

********** Published: October 27, 2011 - Volume 10 - Issue 28