Driver Pleads Guilty in Crosswalk Crash That Injured Teen Girl

A woman pleaded guilty today to driving under the influence and , leaving her with a brain injury, according to the Orange County district attorney's office.

Marnie Jo Lippincott, 39, of Costa Mesa, pleaded guilty to a felony charge of driving under the influence causing bodily injury, with a sentencing enhancement for causing brain injury and a misdemeanor charge of driving without a license. Lippincott is scheduled to return to court Dec. 7 for sentencing. She faces a maximum of eight years in prison.

Prosecutors say at the time of the , Lippincott was high on booze and oxazepham, temazepam, phentermine and methadone and more than three hours after the crash had a blood alcohol level of .05 percent. The crash left with head trauma, internal bleeding and brain swelling. Doctors later induced a coma. Prosecutors say Morales still suffers cognitive deficits and long-lasting brain trauma injuries.

Court records show Lippincott has a string of convictions on charges ranging from burglary to obtaining prescriptions through fraud.

In March city workers at the school's crosswalk at Irvine Avenue and Margaret Drive where was critically injured last year. After the crash, friends and community members held several fundraisers to help raise money for her .