North Miami woman accused of DUI after I-95 crash injures her 3 kids, FHP says

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. — A North Miami woman is facing multiple felony charges after Florida Highway Patrol investigators say she was driving under the influence when she crashed into a Road Ranger truck on Interstate 95, injuring her three children.

Read more Mediators see progress in efforts to halt Iran war as drone attacks rattle region

According to an arrest report, Chrisshonda Douglas was arrested early Monday morning following the investigation into the crash, which occurred shortly after 12:20 a.m. on July 13 on southbound Interstate 95 near Northwest 79th Street.

Investigators said a black Nissan Altima driven by Douglas rear-ended a Road Ranger truck that had stopped to assist the driver of a disabled vehicle in the right lane.

The driver of the Road Ranger witnessed the crash and identified Douglas as the driver of the Nissan, according to the report.

After the crash, Douglas and her three children were transported to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center, authorities said.

Investigators said a 9-year-old child suffered the most severe injuries, including a depressed skull fracture and severe bleeding on the brain that required emergency surgery.

A second child, age 10, suffered a fractured skull, while a third child, who turned 12 on Saturday, sustained minor leg injuries, according to the report.

Read more France says monster fire that forced 220,000 people to flee has stopped growing but remains a threat

While Douglas was being treated at the hospital, investigators said she displayed several signs of impairment, including misspelling her name for medical staff.

According to the arrest report, troopers detected a strong odor of alcohol on her breath and observed bloodshot eyes, slurred speech, repetitive statements and difficulty completing sentences.

When asked about the crash, Douglas repeatedly told investigators, “I don’t care about myself, I only care about my kids,” causing troopers to ask questions multiple times because she would stop speaking mid-sentence or trail off, the report stated.

Because Douglas was receiving medical treatment, investigators said it was not practical to conduct a roadside DUI investigation.

Instead, blood samples were obtained while she was at the hospital.

According to the report, testing showed Douglas had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.222 in the first sample and 0.176 in the second sample—both more than twice Florida’s legal limit of 0.08.

After being taken into custody Monday, Douglas was transported to the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.

Read more Police search for a second suspect following Seattle food festival shooting that killed 3

She faces the following charges:

• Driving under the influence
• Driving under the influence causing serious bodily injury
• Reckless driving causing serious bodily injury
• Driving under the influence causing property damage or injury

As of Monday afternoon, Douglas remained at TGK on a $15,000 bond.