GLOUCESTER, Mass. — The Gloucester woman whose car crashed into actress Sandra Bullock's SUV last month pleaded guilty to drunken driving and a marked lanes violation.
Lucile Gatchell was placed on probation for one year after appearing in Gloucester District Court Tuesday afternoon. Judge Joseph Jennings ordered the 64-year-old to enter and complete an alcohol safety program. The Starknaught Heights resident will also lose her license for 60 days.
Gatchell admitted that at 9:50 p.m. on Friday, April 18, she was behind the wheel of her gray station wagon when it crossed the center line on East Main Street and slammed head-on into Bullock's vehicle in front of East Gloucester Laundromat. Neither Bullock nor her husband, Jesse James, nor their driver, was injured. Gatchell also escaped injury.
Gatchell was found responsible for the marked lanes violation.
Bullock, best known for her roles in the films "Crash," "Speed," "Miss Congeniality" and "28 Days," was on Cape Ann at the time filming the Disney romantic comedy, "The Proposal."
Filming for the movie took place in Rockport, Gloucester and Manchester last month. Since then, the crew has been filming at Beverly Airport and in Danvers. According to Manchester officials, the movie company is looking to return to Manchester.
Neither Bullock nor James — host of the automotive show "Monster Garage" — were in court Tuesday. Police at the accident scene, however, said that Bullock asked a number of times whether Gatchell was OK.
Jonathan L'Ecuyer writes for Gloucester (Mass.) Daily Times and can be reached at jlecuyer@gloucestertimes.com.
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