A 35-year-old Pierce County woman has been charged after authorities say she crashed into a barrier on southbound Interstate 5 near DuPont and tried to attack her daughters with a knife. Janieka Ellington faces six counts of first-degree attempted murder, as well as vehicular assault and felony harassment, according to the charges. The crash happened Monday morning, Oct. 5, and the charges were reported Wednesday, Oct. 7. Court documents say Ellington’s daughters, ages 9 to 15, were in the car. They told investigators their mother had been drinking the night before and woke them because she believed they were being followed. Both girls said she threatened to kill them and tried to stab them before and after the collision, according to the documents. Nathan Wilkinson, who was driving to work, said he saw a woman lunge toward a child. Three Joint Base Lewis-McChord soldiers wrestled with the woman and took away a large knife, he said. Wilkinson called 911. “I’m thankful that they were there because it definitely could have went very poorly,” Wilkinson said, expressing hope that the soldiers would be recognized for stepping in. Both girls were taken to local hospitals, court documents say. The youngest appeared to have multiple cut wounds and broken bones. Ellington’s lawyer requested a mental competency evaluation. The evaluation is expected in the coming weeks, according to the report.