Woman Gets 15 Years In Crash That Killed Roswell Mother

ROSWELL, GA -- A driver in a fatal, multi-vehicle crash that killed a Roswell woman will have to spend time in jail for her actions in connection to the deadly collision.

Courtney Alysabeth Washbourne, 39, of Maine, pleaded guilty Thursday morning to charges of vehicular homicide, disobeying a traffic control device and having an open container of alcohol in her vehicle.

During the early morning hours of Aug. 21, 2016, Washbourne was behind the wheel of a red Nissan Xterra traveling southbound on Johnson Ferry Road when she ran the red light, traveled through the intersection of Woodlawn Parkway and hit three vehicles, the Cobb County District Attorney's Office said.

One of those vehicles was a Toyota Corolla driven by 59-year-old Sharon Freeman of Roswell, who was trying to make a left turn from Woodlawn onto Johnson Ferry when she was hit by Washbourne's vehicle.

The DA's office notes an open container of Bud Light Straw-ber-rita was found in the Xterra, and a blood sample showed Washbourne’s blood-alcohol level was 0.174.

Freeman, a mother and grandmother, was transported to WellStar Kennestone Hospital where she was pronounced dead.

“Ms. Washbourne made life-changing decisions that day when she consumed alcohol and drove her motor vehicle," said Assistant District Attorney Patricia Hull. "The family of Ms. Freeman will never be the same. With a prior DUI from 2009, Ms. Washbourne knew there were serious consequences to drinking and driving."

After accepting the guilty plea, Cobb Superior Court Judge Kimberly Childs sentenced Washbourne to 15 years, with eight years to serve in prison and the balance on probation.

Atlanta attorney Michael Hawkins represented Washbourne, who has remained in custody since her arrest after the crash.

Photo: Sharon Freeman. Credit: Cobb County District Attorney's Office