Elementary School Principal Charged with Murder in DUI Crash

An elementary school principal was charged today with one count of murder in a DUI-related crash in the Palmdale area, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced.

Mary Noel Kruppe (dob 12/25/82) of Pearblossom is scheduled to be arraigned tomorrow in Department A01 of the Los Angeles County Superior Court, Antelope Valley Branch, in case MA075130.

On the night of Nov. 15, Kruppe was driving southbound on 50th Street East, north of Avenue P when she is accused of veering left into oncoming traffic, said Deputy District Attorney Sam Abourched. This allegedly caused a head-on collision with a vehicle being driven in the opposite direction by Jessica Ordaz, 29, of Lancaster, who died of her injuries.

She faces a possible maximum sentence of 15 years to life in state prison if convicted as charged. Prosecutors are requesting bail be set at $2 million.

The case remains under investigation by the California Highway Patrol, Lancaster Station.