Woman charged with manslaughter in death of girl in crosswalk

A Millcreek Township woman allegedly was driving under the influence of sedatives when her car struck and killed a 6-year-old girl in a Salt Lake City crosswalk.

In charges filed Monday, police wrote that 46-year-old Janeen Lundberg was driving north on State Street on March 14 when her car veered into a left-turn lane near Kensington Avenue, hit the median and continued into a crosswalk, where 6-year-old Ambrosia Amalathithada-Ramseyer was walking with her mother.

Lundberg's car struck Ambrosia and her mother, critically injuring them; Ambrosia died the next day.

There was no sign Lundberg tried to brake, police wrote; witnesses said they did not see her brake lights turn on.

Lundberg told police she was taking Alprazolam, Butalbital, Methocarbamol, Cymbalta and Neurontin, all of which have sedative effects, officers wrote. Butalbital and Doxylamine were found in her blood. Lundberg also told officers that she stopped before the crash to buy coffee and No-Doze to stay safe because she had not slept well the night before.

Lundberg was charged with second-degree felony automobile homicide or second-degree manslaughter; third-degree felony driving under the influence of drugs; and failure to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk and illegal turn, both misdemeanors.

Erin Alberty