A woman who was allegedly so drunk she could barely walk was arrested after deputies discovered she’d been driving with a two-year-old child in the vehicle.
The child was properly secured in a car seat, but investigators found several empty miniature bottles of Crown Royal inside the vehicle.
According to the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were called to investigate a suspected impaired driver after a vehicle came to a stop in the Burlington area.
By the time a deputy arrived, firefighters had already removed the toddler from the vehicle.
Driver Needed Help Walking
The deputy identified the driver as Candy Long, who appeared heavily intoxicated.
According to the report, Long had difficulty maintaining her balance and needed assistance walking. The deputy described her as substantially impaired and unable to safely operate a vehicle.
During the investigation, deputies also observed several empty miniature Crown Royal bottles inside the vehicle.
The report indicates that Long had been drinking before getting behind the wheel.
Two-Year-Old Was in Car Seat
While the toddler had been properly restrained in a child safety seat, the deputy was concerned about the danger posed by the driver’s condition.
Firefighters had removed the child before the deputy arrived, and deputies worked to make sure the child was safe.
The investigation included speaking with family members and documenting Long’s level of intoxication.
Woman Faces Two Charges
Long was arrested and transported to the Lawrence County Jail.
According to the sheriff’s report, she was charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated (OVI) and endangering children.
Ohio law allows child-endangering charges in certain circumstances when an impaired driver operates a vehicle with a child inside. A properly installed car seat doesn’t eliminate the danger created by an intoxicated driver.
The sheriff’s report does not indicate that the toddler was injured.
The case serves as a reminder that even when a child is properly buckled in, the person behind the wheel is still responsible for getting that child safely to their destination.