Global Courant 2023-05-23 02:08:34
A mother in Orlando, Florida, is being charged after fleeing two crashes that left her vehicle flipping over multiple times and injuring her two children while on her way to a kindergarten graduation.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office said 32-year-old Ashauntie Cox was arrested Friday and charged with three counts of driving under the influence of grievous bodily harm, two counts of negligent child molestation with grievous bodily harm, reckless driving, driving under the influence of property damage and Driving under the influence.
Investigators allege that Cox was traveling south on Highway 27 in a Kia around 8 p.m. Friday when she struck a Chevrolet pickup truck and fled at high speed.
As she fled, police said, Cox swam in and out of slower traffic until she ran into the back of a Honda SUV as she passed between the SUV and another vehicle.
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Ashauntie Cox, 32, is charged with drunk driving and causing several accidents that seriously injured her two young children and others. (Polk County Sheriff’s Office)
The collision with the SUV caused Cox’s vehicle to flip several times, ejecting her two children — a 5-year-old and an 8-year-old — from the vehicle.
The two children were transported to Tampa General Hospital, where they were both admitted in critical condition.
Also in Cox’s vehicle was a 27-year-old woman who, according to the sheriff’s office, had suffered spinal, hip and back injuries. She is admitted to Lakeland Regional Hospital in stable condition.
The sheriff’s office said the driver of the Honda SUV was taken to a nearby hospital and treated for minor injuries.
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Responding deputies reportedly detected the smell of marijuana from Cox’s vehicle and found a bottle of tequila.
Cox was taken to a nearby hospital and told deputies she was driving from Orlando to Avon Park to celebrate her 5-year-old son’s graduation from kindergarten.
A defocused police car stands behind crime scene at night with flashing lights. A Florida woman is accused of causing several accidents that injured children on their way to a kindergarten graduation. (iStock)
She also admitted to deputies that she smoked marijuana and had four shots of tequila earlier in the day.
The sheriff’s office claimed Cox was showing signs of impairment, and her blood was drawn for further analysis.
Cox was taken to the Polk County Jail and charged, although further charges are pending further investigation.
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“This woman had no respect for anyone’s life when she got behind the wheel drunk and then drove recklessly down a major highway, but what’s worse is the blatant disregard she had for the lives of the innocent children in her car,” Polk County Sheriff Grady said Judd. “I expect a successful prosecution will hold her accountable — and let’s hope she loses her driving privileges when she is released from prison or prison. Please keep these babies and their families in your prayers.”
Greg Wehner is a breaking news reporter for Fox News Digital.
