YERINGTON - The Lyon County woman who killed one and injured a second victim when she ran head-on into another car while high on methamphetamine was sentenced to up to 16 years in prison Monday.
The wreck occurred in Stagecoach seven miles east of Dayton on Jan. 28. Jessica Sanchez, 37, was driving west in the eastbound lanes of Highway 50. According to the toxicology report, she had 670 nanograms of methamphetamine in her system at the time of the accident - nearly seven times the level at which a driver is considered impaired.
She pleaded guilty to two counts - driving under the influence of drugs causing death and driving under the influence of drugs causing substantial bodily harm.
District Judge Leon Aberasturi sentenced her to 76-192 months in prison on each of the two counts with the sentences to run concurrently. She could spend up to 16 years in prison.
Passenger Carole Marie Ernst Caron, 51, of Silver Springs, was killed in the wreck. Driver Cindy Leon, 32, was critically injured.
Sanchez was given credit for the 132 days she spent in the Lyon County Jail.
In addition to the prison time, she was hit with a $2,000 fine for each of the two counts and $675 in fees.
In exchange for pleading guilty to the charges, two reckless driving charges were dropped.
The Carson City District Attorney's Office handled the case because Lyon County prosecutors had prosecuted Caron's husband in an unrelated case.
