COURT HOUSE — For the second time in the past seven days Judge Susan Maven sentenced a drunken driver responsible for a fatal crash that ended a young life.
Laura Lippie, 47, of Bridgeton, pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter and on Thursday Jan. 15 received a nine-year prison term for a car crash that killed Joshua M. Moren.
On June 21, 2008 Lippie crashed her car into the motorcycle Moren, 18, of Vineland, was riding as he traveled along Route 47 in Middle Township on his way to meet his family at Morey’s Piers in Wildwood.
According to Chief Assistant Prosecutor Rob Johnson Lippie had spent much of that day drinking vodka. Her blood-alcohol content was 0.37, more than four times the legal limit.
Before sentencing, Moren’s parents spoke life without their only child. A video, showing photos from throughout his life, also played in the courtroom.
Moren had graduated from Sacred Heart High School and would have be attending college in the fall. He had won a scholarship for playing baseball.
Lippie apologized to the family for what she had done. Chuck Moren, Joshua’s father, accepted the apology.
Maven sentenced Lippie to the nine-year sentence anticipated in her plea agreement.
According to that agreement, Lippie must serve at least 85 percent of that sentence before she is eligible for parole. She received credit for 208 days already served.
Lippie’s driver’s license also will be suspended for eight years upon her release from prison and an interlock device, designed to prevent drunken drivers from getting behind the wheel, must be installed on her car for one year.
Contact Suit at: (609) 886-8600 ext. 25 or lsuit@cmcherald.com
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