An Egg Harbor Township woman admitted Thursday that she was drinking and on prescription medication when she caused an crash that killed a mother and her 10-month-old son in 2019.
Nancy Cavanaugh, now 68, pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree aggravated manslaughter.
It's an open plea, meaning she will be sentenced at the judge's discretion. She could face anywhere from 10 to 60 years.
Cavanaugh told the judge Thursday that she was driving home from ShopRite Feb. 26, with two open bottles of 99 Bananas vodka when she crossed over into oncoming traffic on English Creek Avenue, and caused the crash.
Alisha Williams, 31, was driving with her 10-month-old son Amari.
Despite efforts by two men who rushed to the vehicle, Williams and her son died inside the fire-engulfed vehicle.
Her last words were to tell the men trying to get her out to "just get the baby."
Cavanaugh, who has been jailed since October 2019, told Judge Bernard DeLury that she also had taken her alprazolam prescription -- commonly known as Xanax -- that morning.
A psychophamcology expert concluded that it was "likely ... more than her prescribed dosage."
Cavanaugh smelled of alcohol at the scene, and admitted to having two shots of the vodka, according to the affidavit previously obtained by BreakingAC.
Her blood alcohol was .111 at the hospital, and .075 — just below the legal limit — when taken by law enforcement.
“Her speech was slurred and her eyes were bloodshot and her eyelids drooping,” according to the report.
At first, the woman told another officer she was on the wrong side of the road, but later said that maybe the other driver was.
The speed limit there is 50 mph, but she was going about 68 mph, according to the report.
Cavanaugh is scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 29.
At that time, her attorney, John Tumelty, will argue for sentencing under second degree with the two sentences served concurrently. Chief Assistant Prosecutor Rick McKelvey said the state will argue for the first-degree range, and that the terms be served consecutively.
Cavanaugh remains in the Atlantic County Justice Facility.
