The Pemberton Township woman who was driving dangerously and under the influence of alcohol has pleaded guilty to causing a crash that killed a teenager, something she admits to having no recollection of what occurred.
On the fatal night, around 9:00 pm on December 16 of 2021, 55-year old Wanda Sprague left a bar in Browns Mills after a night of drinking and never turned the head lights on of her Chrysler 300, was drunk, and said she never saw the 17-year old girl that she hit head-on in her Nissan Sentra, according to the Burlington County Prosecutor's Office.
Kayla Bowen, 17, of Pemberton Township was pronounced dead at the scene between Lakehurst Road and Rancocas Lane.
Pemberton Township Police were first on scene and shortly thereafter gathered information that Sprague was drinking at the Country Lakes Pub and Grill that night and then took off to exceed 90 mph.
Burlington County Prosecutor LaChia L. Bradshaw announced Wednesday that the investigation and blood tests also found that Sprague had a .188 BAC and told the court she didn't remember the crash.
She was in a wheelchair in court, Prosecutor Bradshaw said, and Sprague there also said she's had several surgeries herself following the crash with more on the way including one where her foot may have to be amputated.
Wanda Sprague, of Pemberton-Browns Mills Road, has pled guilty to one count of Aggravated Manslaughter (First Degree) under a plea deal with the BCPO "in exchange for a term of eight years in New Jersey state prison."
Sprague also ended up pleading guilty to Driving While Intoxicated.
Burlington County Assistant Prosecutor Joshua Dennis, supervisor of the BCPO Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Unit, is trying the case.
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