KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Jackson County Prosecutor’s office charged a 32-year-old woman with involuntary manslaughter because police say she was drunk when she drove the wrong way onto I-70 and crashed into a truck, killing the passenger in her car.
Lanelle Griffin, according to the complaint, had a blood-alcohol content of more than .18% when she drove her 2005 Chevy Malibu the wrong way on an exit ramp at I-70 and 40 Highway at about 11:30 p.m on February 14.
Traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes, police say Griffin struck a Volvo semi-truck head-on. The impact killed her passenger, Karl Silvey.
Police say the toxicology report also revealed Griffin had cocaine, opiates and ethanol in her blood. She was also driving on a revoked license, and faces additional charges for that.
Witnesses told police that Griffin and Silvey had been drinking at a club that night.
Griffin faces a up to 15 years in prison if convicted of involuntary manslaughter in the 1st degree.