Driver who used meth convicted of manslaughter

An Irvine driver who had taken methamphetamines was convicted of vehicular manslaughter Thursday, prosecutors said.

Laurie Anne Keen, 43, was convicted of felony vehicular manslaughter, a misdemeanor count of taking a controlled substance and driving without insurance, an infraction, the Orange County District Attorney said in a press release.

About 1:21 p.m. Jan. 18, Keen was driving in a Chevrolet van on Culver Drive approaching Farwell Avenue when she drove through a red light and crashed into 77-year-old Patricia Thompson-Yates, who died of multiple blunt traumatic injuries about 43 minutes later, the release said.

Authorities determined that Keen had taken methamphetamines.

Keen is expected to be sentenced to two years in prison Jan. 6.

--Lauren Williams

Twitter: @lawilliams30