This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
An Eagle Mountain woman has pleaded guilty to causing a fatal crash last year in Utah County while driving under the influence of methamphetamine.
Katie Ann Nielson, 30, was charged in 4th District Court with second-degree felony automobile homicide in the Sept. 28 death of 72-year-old Lillian Strickland, of Cedar Fort.
Nielson — whose driver license had been suspended due to a prior DUI — also was charged with third-degree felony possession of a controlled substance, and class C misdemeanor counts of driving on suspension, no proof of insurance and driving on the wrong side of the roadway.
She pleaded guilty Tuesday to a lesser third-degree felony count of automobile homicide, as well as third-degree felony possession of a controlled substance and class C misdemeanor no proof of insurance.
She faces up to five years in prison on each of the felony counts when she is sentenced June 14 by Judge Thomas Low.
At about 5:30 a.m. on Sept. 28, Nielson was driving an SUV south on Crossroads Boulevard in Saratoga Springs when she crossed into the northbound lanes and collided head-on with a car driven by Strickland, who was killed almost immediately, according to charging documents.
Nielson's vehicle also struck another car which was behind Strickland's, but the driver was not injured.
Saratoga Springs police noticed that Nielson showed signs of being under the influence of a stimulant, charges state.
While at the hospital, Nielson initially said she may have fallen asleep, but denied having used drugs.
Later, she admitted smoking meth about 45 minutes prior to the crash, charges state.
Toxicology tests confirmed she had methamphetamine and amphetamine in her blood and urine, charges state.
Nielsen has two prior convictions for drug possession, in 2011 and 2012. She also has a DUI conviction from a 2012 case, which also involved methamphetamine use, and for which she was sent to prison, court records show.