Teen Charged With Vehicular Manslaughter

Felony vehicular manslaughter and gross negligence charges have been filed against a Costa Mesa teenager who was the driver in a crash that killed one passenger and critically wounded another.

Jason Rausch, 18, who was at the wheel of a Chevrolet Blazer that crashed May 23 on a winding stretch of Irvine Boulevard, could face up to six years in state prison if convicted.

He was also charged with two misdemeanor counts of reckless driving with gross negligence leading to injury.

The sport-utility vehicle was loaded with 10 Newport Harbor High School students. The teens had jammed into the vehicle after leaving a house party in Santa Ana Heights.

The crash killed 18-year-old Donald “Donnie” Bridgman. Amanda Arthur, 17, sustained serious brain damage and remains in care at Meridian Neuro Care in Cowan Heights.

Police found several beers in the vehicle, only one of which had been opened. Rausch was not accused of driving under the influence, which would have carried a more serious potential penalty.

A student who had been at the party said that Rausch was driving the Blazer that night, which was owned by Bridgman’s family, because he was the only one in the group who had not been drinking.

But authorities contend the driver was speeding in the 35-mph zone.

His attorney could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

Deputy Atty. Gen. James D. Dutton said the state will prosecute the case to avoid any appearance of conflict of interest because Bridgman’s mother is a deputy district attorney in Orange County.

Rausch is expected to enter a plea to the charges Aug. 13 in Municipal Court in Newport Beach.