Woman charged with fleeing police with two babies in car in Brownsville
A New Salem woman is facing charges after she allegedly fled state police through Brownsville Friday with two babies in the car.
Ariona Rachelle Woods, 28, of New Salem Road is charged with fleeing or attempting to elude officers, DUI, and two counts each of endangering the welfare of children and reckless endangerment, along with several traffic citations.
The two children, ages 10 months and 11 months, were not injured, according to court documents.
Woods initially claimed a man named “Jeff” was the driver and that he fled, police said. She later admitted she was the driver and said Jeff told her to flee police because he has warrants, according to court documents.
According to the affidavit of probable cause filed in her case, she drove between 30 and 55 mph during the pursuit in 25 mph zones and drove through stop signs. State police spotted Woods on High Street and attempted to pull her over for a burned out headlight. She allegedly fled and crossed into the oncoming lane of traffic to pass a vehicle, speeding through borough streets. She reportedly crossed into a field along the road and stopped at a Lewis Street home.
She knocked on the door at the home, where she appeared to be “frantic” and said there were children in the car. Police found the children in the back seat. The 11-month-old’s car seat was laying on its side because it was not properly strapped in, police said.
Police contacted Woods’ sister, who owns the vehicle. She said she is the mother of the 11-month-old and Woods left her house about 10 minutes earlier to take the children to her mother’s house on Lewis Street. She said Woods and the children were the only people in the car when she left, according to court documents.
Woods claimed she picked up Jeff, who she does not know well. She said he got out of the vehicle during the pursuit, court documents said.
She reportedly admitted to smoking marijuana earlier that day.
Woods was arraigned early Saturday before on-call Fayette County Magisterial District Judge Richard A. Kasunic II, who set bail at $20,000. She was unable to post bail. Charges were filed before Magisterial District Judge Mike Defino Jr.