Woman Charged with DUI after Collision with Police Cruiser
By: Julia DeGiovanni
Email: news@abc6.com
Twitter: @ABC6
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) – Police charge a mother for driving under the influence and striking a police cruiser with her children inside her vehicle on Friday night.
Around 9:30 p.m. on Friday, police responded to a call on Chalkstone Avenue of a collision between a police car and a Toyota Camry at the intersection of Academy Avenue.
The Camry had attempted to turn left onto Academy Avenue, yet failed to yield for the cruiser and was struck.
Once on the scene, both the officer and the driver were treated.
The operator of the Camry was identified as 29-year old Taynicha Perez, who had her three children as passengers, ages: 11, 4 and 3.
Police state that the suspect had appeared to be argumentative and belligerent toward Fire personnel, demanding to know who struck her vehicle.
She was observed to have had bloodshot, watery eyes and an odor of alcoholic beverage on her breath.
Police seized an open bottle of vodka and margarita mix in the center console of the car after inspection.
Providence police requested the suspect to provide a breath sample.
Due to her receiving medical treatment and complaining of head pain, there were no field sobriety tests administered, police say.
She was handcuffed in the stretcher and taken to RI Hospital.
Her children were also sent to the hospital for minor injuries.
According to the Police, When asked if she had her children in car seats at the time of the collision, she said no because she had friends in the car earlier and had to take the car seats out.
Perez was charged with; DUI, Chemical Test Refusal, Failing to Yield to Emergency Vehicles, Operating a Vehicle with an Unsealed Alcoholic Beverage, and two counts of no child restraint.
According to Police, DCYF has been notified of the incident.
©WLNE-TV/ABC 6 2019
