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Hawthorne Woman Pleads Guilty for DUI Crash That Killed Toddler, Injured Teen

A 72-year-old woman pleaded guilty today for the DUI hit-and-run death of a 15-month-old boy in a stroller, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced.

Deputy District Attorney Keri Modder said Donna Marie Higgins of Hawthorne entered the plea to one felony count of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated.

Higgins was immediDSC06923 (2)ately sentenced to six years in state prison.

On Sept. 3, 2016, a 15-year-old girl was crossing the street at a crosswalk at 133rd Street and Hawthorne Boulevard while pushing a stroller with victim Liam Kowal inside when the defendant ran both of them down and kept driving, the prosecutor said. The toddler died as a result of his injuries.

Higgins was stopped further down the road by several people who were near the scene, the prosecutor added.

The case was investigated by the Hawthorne Police Department.

 
From a Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office Press Release