Seattle Police Department DUI Squad officers arrested a 34-year-old woman in the International District early Friday morning after the woman crashed into a parked car while drinking and driving, with her infant son on board.
Officers found the 34-year-old woman passed out in the driver’s seat of her vehicle at 5th Ave S and S. King St. shortly before 1 am.
The woman had a bottle of fortified wine tucked between her legs, and her 22-month-old son in the car with her. The woman and her child were not seriously injured in the crash.
She’s very fortunate the most precious cargo she had with her was not injured,” says DUI Squad Officer Eric Michl. “This had all the makings of a tragedy.”
Officers woke the woman up to see if she could perform a standard field sobriety test. She could not, and refused to take a breathalyzer test.
DUI Squad officers then arrested the woman—who had already her driver’s license revoked, an ignition interlock system in her car, and an outstanding warrant in Franklin County for DUI, driving with a suspended license, and bail jumping—and obtained a warrant to take a blood draw, which registered her blood alcohol level at .27, more than three times the legal limit.
The woman told police she did not have anyone who could take care of the child for her, so Seattle Police Department Parking Enforcement Officer Kelly Azzouzi cared for the young boy until he was turned over to Child Protective Services.
Officers booked the woman—who is currently on probation for DUI and has been arrested for DUI five times over the last decade—into the King County Jail for investigation of DUI.