Woman admits guilt in fatal DUI car crash

<p>A Forestville woman pleaded guilty Tuesday to gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and two other felonies in a crash that killed a Rohnert Park mother of five.</p><p>Judy E. Shafer, 55, faces a maximum of 14 years in prison when she is sentenced April 13 by Judge Arthur Wick. The judge also has the option to release her on probation.</p><p>Shafer was accused in a Sept. 14 crash on Llano Road, west of Santa Rosa, that killed Kathy O'Daniel, 54, and injured her 15-year-old daughter, Kelcee. Prosecutors said Shafer was drunk and high on prescription drugs when she swerved across the double-yellow lines and her Jeep went head-on into a Honda Civic driven by O'Daniel.</p><p>O'Daniel, who had been driving her daughter home from volleyball practice at Analy High, was pronounced dead at the scene. Kelcee O'Daniel was hospitalized with a hand injury and lacerated spleen.</p><p>A blood test taken about two hours after the crash put Shafer's alcohol level at 0.19 percent, Deputy District Attorney Bob Waner said. He said she has no alcohol-related prior offenses.</p><p>Also, testing showed Shafer had valium, codeine and two other drugs in her system, a CHP investigator testified at her preliminary hearing last month.</p><p>-- Paul Payne</p>