DUI suspect in fatal Palmdale crash ID'd as elementary school principal

PALMDALE, Calif. (KABC) -- A DUI suspect in a crash that killed a woman in Palmdale last week is the principal of Enterprise Elementary School in Lancaster, ABC7 has learned.

Mary Kruppe is accused of being under the influence when her Jeep Wrangler veered into oncoming traffic and struck Jessica Ordaz's Mazda3 head-on shortly before 7 p.m. on Nov. 15, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Kruppe was later charged with one count of murder. She is scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday.

News video showed the overturned Jeep on its side in the aftermath of the collision on 50th Street East, just north of Avenue P.

Ordaz, 29, of Lancaster, was pronounced dead at the scene, the CHP said. Kruppe was transported to Antelope Valley Hospital for medical treatment and arrested.

Alcohol is believed to have been a factor in the incident, the Highway Patrol said.

Bail for Kruppe, a 35-year-old resident of Pearblossom, was set at $2 million.