A bus driver from Goleta who pleaded guilty to causing a 2019 crash near Los Alamos last year that injured some of her passengers was sentenced Wednesday to seven years in state prison.
Laura Mae Gish was charged in February 2019 with driving under the influence of drugs causing injury and a misdemeanor charge of possession of a controlled methamphetamine in connection with the Jan. 18, 2019 crash, according to court records.
The California Highway Patrol said Gish allowed the Volvo American Star Tours bus carrying 25 passengers to drift off the road where it went down a dirt culvert, hit a tree and landed on its side off Highway 101, a few miles north of the Highway 154 offramp and just south of Alisos Canyon Road.
The Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office says Gish fell asleep at the wheel and the sentenced handed down to the 52-year-old Wednesday was the maximum sentenced she faced after pleading guilty to all charges against her.
Gish also reportedly admitted to allegations that she caused multiple people to be injured.
