As reported by the York Dispatch, a mother injured her children and damaged two other vehicles in a DUI-fueled crash during a snowstorm on February 9. The woman, T.F., 27, has since pleaded guilty to accidents involving personal injury while not properly licensed, two counts each of child endangerment and reckless endangerment, and one count of driving under the influence of alcohol/highest rate.
According to the police, both of T.F.'s children, a one year-old and a four-year-old, were not restrained in child safety seats at the time of the crash.
In exchange for the guilty plea, other charges that included summary offenses of speeding, reckless driving, driving with a suspended license and the aggravated assault on a police officer, were dismissed.
The assault of the officer was a felony charge. According to the state police T.F. kicked an officer in the head – and the officer agreed to let the charge be dismissed if T.F. entered a guilty plea on the other charges.
James Keating, the Cumberland county first assistant district attorney, said that the injured officer "was more concerned about the remaining charges, and the children."
T.F.'s sentence, yet to be agreed and contingent on the judge, can range from probation to a nine-month prison sentence, according to Keating. The attorney added, "Obviously it was a very serious situation, so we made her plead to the most serious charges as to the crash and the DUI."
T.F.'s next court date, for sentencing in the Cumberland County Court, has yet to be announced according to reporters. Richard Konkel, T.F.'s attorney, did not return a telephone call to get a comment on the case.
The crash occurred at approximately 3:10 p.m. on I-83 nearest to the New Cumberland exit in Lower Allen Township. T.F. was spotted driving a blue Hyundai Sonata, by an officer in an unmarked cruiser, while speeding and passing other vehicles in a reckless manner – including the cruiser.
She then rear-ended one car and hit the front of a tractor trailer. The driver of the car, and his passenger, were injured.
The police report stated that in an effort not to hit a Swatara Township police vehicle, T.F. drove onto the side of the roadway.
When T.F's car came to a rest after the accident the officers responded to render aid. T.F. "reeked of alcohol", was handcuffed and placed in a police vehicle awaiting the arrival of the state police.
According to court documents, a Derry Township police officer said he had "never seen anyone drive this ridiculous."
T.F., though apologetic at the scene saying, "I'm drunk, I'm sorry, I'm drunk" allegedly kicked Trooper M.L. in the back of the head as he was driving her to the state police barracks in Harrisburg.
T.F. wasn't limited to a physical outburst, according to the police, she was also unable to control her bladder and urinated while in the cruiser.
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