SANTA ROSA (BCN) — A Santa Rosa woman who killed one woman and injured another with her car in January pleaded no contest to vehicular manslaughter and DUI this morning in Sonoma County Superior Court.

Gayle Gray, 77, faces a maximum prison term of nine years and eight months when she is sentenced June 21, her attorney Stephen Gallenson said.

Gray pleaded no contest to vehicular manslaughter without gross negligence while intoxicated and driving under the influence of prescription drugs and alcohol.

Gray was driving a 1994 Lexus sedan around 1 p.m. on Jan. 20 when she struck Jackie Simon, 85, and 91-year-old Josephine Ross, both of Santa Rosa outside the Oakmont Village Market in Santa Rosa. Both women were

hospitalized and Simon died at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital.

Gray told Santa Rosa police at the scene that she meant to hit the brakes of her car instead of the gas pedal. Police said both women were thrown from the hood of the Lexus as it accelerated and continued across the center divider on Oakmont Drive.

The women were walking on the sidewalk when they were struck, police said.

After the plea hearing this morning, Gray’s son Scott said his mother was pulling out of the parking lot as the two women were walking by on the sidewalk.

“They waved at her and she waved and she hit the gas, not the brake,” Scott Gray said.

Gallenson said Gray’s blood-alcohol level was 0.05 percent — below the 0.08 level considered intoxicated. Gray also was taking prescription medications for heart and lung illnesses, depression and neuropathy, Gallenson said.

The DUI and vehicular manslaughter charges include enhancements alleging Gray caused great bodily injury and the incident involved multiple victims.

Judge Jamie Thistlethwaite did not indicate what her sentence would be, but said she did not believe Gray acted with willful intent.

“It was a totally avoidable situation but you didn’t mean to do it,” Thistlethwaite said.

“She feels horrible and wants the victims’ families to have peace,” Scott Gray said. “We were raised to accept responsibility and she accepted responsibility today,” Gray said.

His mother surrendered her driver’s license after the incident, Gray said.

Gray has two previous misdemeanor DUI convictions that occurred in March 2002 and November 1993, according to court records. She was sentenced to probation for those offenses.