A Louisiana mother is facing a slew of criminal charges related to a hit-and-run accident. She was arrested approximately two weeks after the accident, as she was initially placed in a hospital for necessary medical treatment. She is currently in police custody on drug charges and many other criminal allegations.
Authorities arrived on the scene of a single-vehicle hit-and-run accident shortly before 10 p.m. in early October. According to reports, the driver left the nearby roadway, drove across multiple driveways, collided with a porta potty and eventually came to rest in a pond. The driver abandoned the vehicle, but police determined that there had also been a passenger in the front seat who had not been wearing a seatbelt. Police allegedly discovered drug paraphernalia and other evidence inside of the vehicle that led them to the driver’s identity.
Police later determined that the unsecured, front-seat passenger had been the driver’s 8-year-old daughter. Although the girl was injured in the accident, her mother apparently did not seek medical attention for the girl, and she was instead taken for treatment by a family member. The young girl supposedly had positive test results for the presence of Benzodiazepine — a common ingredient in Xanax — and cocaine in her system.
The woman believed to be the abandoned vehicle’s driver was arrested several weeks after the crash. Her medical condition at the time of arrest warranted medical treatment, and police took her to an area hospital, where she received care for four days. Upon her release she was taken to and booked in the local jail.
Drug charges, including possession of drug paraphernalia and possession with the intent to distribute, can have severe criminal consequences should convictions be secured in court. This is especially true when filed alongside other charges, of which this woman has many. Ultimately, Louisiana defendants can minimize the potential legal impact on their lives by taking the time to craft a comprehensive defense plan under the guidance of experienced legal counsel. This usually provides an opportunity to decide how best to handle the allegations, whether that be to negotiate a plea deal or to fight the charges until the end of trial court proceedings.
Source: kalb.com, “Hit and run investigation leads to narcotics and cruelty to juvenile arrest“, Oct. 23, 2017