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Cranston police say DUI suspect had child, 6, in SUV after curb crash
A 43-year-old Providence woman faces DUI charges after a witness reported her SUV swerving before it struck a curb in Cranston with a 6-year-old inside. Police said breath tests registered .370 and .377, and the child appeared uninjured.
A 43-year-old Providence woman is facing drunken-driving charges after a crash in Cranston on Oct. 11 involving a 6-year-old child in her SUV, police said.
Officers responded to Garfield Avenue near Stop & Shop after a Kia Sportage became disabled, according to a Cranston police report. A witness told police the SUV had left the Texas Roadhouse parking lot, swerved and nearly hit several vehicles before striking a curb.
The witness and her boyfriend stopped to check on the driver and found a young child asleep in the back seat, police said. They told officers the driver did not appear safe to drive.
Police identified the driver as Natalia Garcia. Officers reported that she had slurred speech, smelled of alcohol and could not stand or walk without help. They found four small liquor bottles in the vehicle, three empty, and a fifth empty bottle in Garcia’s pocket, according to the report.
Cranston Fire and Rescue evaluated the child, who appeared uninjured. The child’s father later picked him up, police said.
An officer did not complete a full field sobriety test because of Garcia’s condition and heavy rain. Police said later breath tests registered .370 and .377.
Garcia was charged with driving under the influence with a child younger than 13 in the vehicle and with a blood alcohol concentration of .15 or higher. Police also issued summonses alleging registration and license violations, lack of insurance, improper plate display, a lane violation and possession of alcohol in a vehicle.
Garcia was taken to a hospital for detoxification and was summoned to appear for arraignment Nov. 5 in Third Division District Court. She previously pleaded no contest in a 2017 DUI case, according to the report. The current charges are allegations; any finding of guilt would be determined in court.