Published: May 17, 2008 09:41 am         

Woman headed to prison for fatal crash

TRAVERSE CITY A woman is going to prison for her role in a deadly traffic crash.

Grand Traverse Circuit Judge Philip E. Rodgers sentenced Patricia Ann Steele to a minimum of seven years in prison and a maximum of 15 years in prison Friday.

A jury last month found Steele, 48, guilty of operating while intoxicated causing death, operating while intoxicated causing serious injury, second offense drunken-driving and having an open container of alcohol in a vehicle.

Gerald Frost, 74, of Lake Ann, died Dec. 12 when a van driven by Steele crossed the center line on U.S. 31 South and slammed into his vehicle. Frost was pronounced dead at the scene, and his wife, Elaine Frost, 76, suffered a broken leg and other serious injuries.

Police said a test given after the crash showed Steele's blood alcohol content to be .36, more than four times the state's legal limit of .08.