A former server at the Viejas Casino in Alpine has pleaded guilty to gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated in the wrong way collision death of another driver.
Lauren Ashley Freeman, 23, of Santee, faces up to 11 years and eight months in state prison, said Deputy District Attorney Laura Evans.
Justin Callahan, 35, was killed Feb. 26, 2018 and investigators initially believed he got onto a freeway transition ramp the wrong way and collided with Freeman’s Toyota Camry.
The California Highway Patrol initially thought Callahan was at fault but they reversed their earlier finding and Freeman was charged in November 2018.
A murder charge was dismissed against Freeman by San Diego Superior Court Judge Runston Maino after she pleaded guilty to vehicular manslaughter. She also pleaded guilty to drunk driving on July 26.
Sentencing was set for Sept. 27 and Freeman remains in Las Colinas Women’s Detention Facility without bail.
Freeman caused the 1:55 a.m. crash by driving the wrong way on a ramp between Interstate 8 and I-5.
Callahan’s brother, Tommy Villafranca, said his brother clocked out at 1:30 a.m. at his job in Chula Vista and was on northbound Interstate 5 while driving to his Ocean Beach home when his car was struck.
Evans previously said in court that Freeman’s blood/ alcohol level was .24, which is three times the legal limit.
Freeman had been drinking before the crash and disregarded four warning signs that she was entering the freeway the wrong way, said Evans.
Evans said Freeman was taught a course about serving alcoholic drinks while working in Alpine. Evans added that Freeman had a boyfriend who was later charged with DUI.
