Samantha A. Seiler, 20, of Cambria was in Franklin County court Wednesday afternoon to hear the bill of indictment returned by a grand jury.
Seiler appeared in custody and was represented by public defender Eric J. Dirnbeck as circuit court judge Tom Tedeschi read the charges filed on Jan. 13 by state's attorney Evan Owens.
Charges allege that Seiler committed the offense of aggravated driving under the influence of drugs, intoxicating compound or any combination thereof when she knowingly drove or was in actual physical control of a vehicle that crashed with a vehicle being driven by Delena S. Ramsey, 49, of Mulkeytown. Count 1 is considered a Class 2 felony that carries an enhanced sentence of between three and 14 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections should Seiler be convicted.
Seiler was also charged with unlawful possession of cannabis, a class 4 felony, and endangering the life or health of a child, a Class A misdemeanor. Count 3 alleges that Seiler was driving the vehicle while under the influence of cannabis with a 10-month-old child in the vehicle.
Sheriff Don Jones reported that the two-vehicle crash occurred at the intersection of Park Street Road and Route 148 on Jan. 5.
He said Seiler was traveling west on Park Street Road when she failed to stop at the stop sign and drove into the path of a vehicle driven by Ramsey.
Jones said Ramsey was extricated from the 2006 Toyota Corolla she was driving and was pronounced dead at the Franklin Hospital emergency room.
The sheriff said the child was properly restrained and was not injured, nor was Seiler.
A pre-trial hearing was set for Feb. 22 with a jury trial slated in April. Bond has been set at $100,000.
