The Orange County Criminal Lawyer Blog
A Florida woman was arrested after the authorities alleged she was driving drunk when her vehicle crashed and caught fire while her two children were inside.
According to investigators, the crash happened on Mother’s Day in Miami. A state trooper arrived at the scene after spotting a damaged gray Nissan with smoke coming from the front of the vehicle. A 12-year-old boy was seen waving for help while carrying a 2-year-old girl away from the wreckage.
The authorities said a man at the scene was trying to help the driver out of the vehicle, but she allegedly refused to get out even after flames started in the engine area. The trooper eventually convinced her to leave the vehicle, then used a fire extinguisher to put out the fire.
Investigators said the children appeared to suffer only minor injuries that did not require emergency treatment. After checking on the family, the trooper allegedly noticed signs that the driver was intoxicated.
The authorities said the woman claimed she could not remember how the crash happened. When asked for her driver’s license, she allegedly struggled to remove it from her wallet.
During field sobriety exercises, investigators said she allegedly showed several signs of impairment. According to the report, she incorrectly counted numbers during one test and had difficulty following instructions. A later breath test reportedly showed her blood alcohol content was 0.216.
The woman was later booked into the Miami-Dade jail and faced charges including DUI, two counts of DUI involving property damage or injuries, and two counts of child abuse.
Local reports stated the children were later placed in the care of their grandmother. During a court appearance the following day, a judge reportedly ordered the woman to have no contact with the children while the case continued.
If you or someone you love is suspected of a criminal offense, contact Orange County criminal defense lawyer Staycie R. Sena at (949) 477-8088 for a consultation now.