The woman who fled the scene of a fatal car wreck near Longmont on Saturday evening by trying to swim across a nearby lake has a history of driving while intoxicated, the Colorado State Patrol says.

Lisa Norton, 32, was on probation for an alcohol-related driving offense when her Ford Ranger pickup crossed the center line on Nelson Road and crashed into a westbound Nissan coupe about 6:30 p.m., a state patrol spokeswoman said.

Investigators think alcohol was a factor in the crash, said Trooper Heather Cobbler.

Gabriel Nielsen, 33, the driver of the Nissan, was killed.

Passengers Cherish Francis, 24, and a 2-year-old child remain in serious condition at Denver Health Medical Center.

Court records show that a 32-year-old Lisa Norton was sentenced Thursday in Boulder County to 12 months probation for driving while ability impaired.

Charges of resisting arrest and fleeing the scene were dismissed in that case.

State troopers could not verify Sunday that the woman in the Boulder County case was the same person arrested in the Longmont incident.

Norton, now in custody and facing a vehicular manslaughter charge, fled on foot and attempted to swim across a lake near the intersection of Nelson Road and 63rd Avenue, authorities said.

Boaters picked her up and turned her over to Longmont police.

Minutes before the fatal crash, authorities said, Norton sideswiped another vehicle on Nelson Road and failed to stop.

There were no injuries in that accident.

As of Sunday evening, Norton remained at Longmont United Hospital, where she will receive a medical exam before being booked into the Boulder County jail.

Jessica Fender: 303-954-1244 or jfender@denverpost.com