Drunk woman drives home and leaves friend’s baby in the car

Drunk driving is a serious crime by itself, but very few South Carolinians understand how driving under the influence of alcohol can lead to other crimes. An incident of how this happens was recently reported in Charleston.

The incident

According to Charleston police, the suspect was shopping with a friend during the evening of August 3, 2022. As the friend shopped in a Publix Grocery Store, the suspect drove herself home in her friend’s car. The woman either didn’t know or forgot that the friend’s baby was in the back seat.

Upon reaching her apartment building, the suspect left the car without taking the baby with her. The police incident report stated that the woman was “extremely impaired” when she got behind the wheel of her friend’s car.

A neighbor called police later in the evening to report that a child had been left in a car by someone who may have been drunk. When officers arrived before 10:15 p.m., they found the baby in the car, with the air conditioning not functioning and all the windows rolled up. The baby was sweating and was warm to the touch. When police arrived at the scene, they entered the suspect’s apartment and found her partially dressed and passed out on the sofa. Officers spent “several minutes” trying to wake the woman.

Once the woman woke up, police described her as “confused” and smelling strongly of alcohol. The woman was incoherent as she regained consciousness, but she admitted to drinking earlier in the evening. She also admitted that she drove herself home.

The woman was charged with driving under the influence alcohol, child endangerment and unlawful conduct toward a child.

Valuable advice from a knowledgeable attorney

If convicted on any of the charges, the woman may face serious jail time, a large fine, and restriction of her driving privileges. It may be wise to consult an experienced criminal defense attorney for an evaluation of the evidence, assistance in preparing an effective defense strategy, and, when appropriate, assistance in negotiating an acceptable plea agreement.