A Michigan woman was arrested for child neglect after crashing into the back of another vehicle while drunk with two children in the car.
A trooper responded to a vehicle crash involving 33-year-old Asia Latrice Powell at U.S. Hwy. 27 and County Road 474 in Clermont around 2 p.m. Thursday, June 18, according to an arrest report from the Florida Highway Patrol. Upon arrival, he found a black Dodge Avenger with damage to its front and a black Ram 1500 with damage to its rear.
Powell and the two children in her care had already been transported to Orlando Health ER Four Corners to treat their injuries. A witness to the crash advised that the Dodge, driven by Powell, approached the intersection from the center southbound lane. As the vehicle entered the intersection, it changed to the right lane and struck the Ram, the report said.
The trooper later arrived at the ER to speak with Powell, who smelled of alcohol, slurred her speech and had glassy, watery eyes. She had constant mood swings from aggressive to polite toward medical personnel and the trooper. The latter explained that she was being investigated for DUI and asked her to contact a family member to stay with the children, the report said.
Powell initially contacted her boyfriend’s mother, and she came to the hospital but refused to take custody of the children. She then asked another woman to come, who stated she was coming from downtown Orlando and would be there in an hour. Meanwhile, another trooper stayed with the children while the other continued the investigation, the report said.
The trooper told Powell he believed she was under the influence during the crash, to which she replied, “I drank last night, but I did not drink today…I’m homeless…I dropped off my boyfriend at his work and was doing some DoorDash when the crash occurred.”
She subsequently agreed to participate in field sobriety exercises, saying she would do anything as long as she could go back to her children. During the exercises, she swayed, did not follow instructions and used her arms for balance. Her performance led the deputy to conclude she was under the influence. Powell also provided breath samples of 0.206g/210L and 0.197g/210L, the report said.
At 8 p.m., a man arrived at the hospital to take the children. But he appeared to be under the influence of drugs and alcohol, so law enforcement refused to release custody of the children to him. No other family member came to claim them, and the Florida Department of Children and Families was notified to take them, the report said.
Powell was charged with reckless driving, DUI and two counts of child neglect (domestic). She was booked at Lake County Jail with bond set at $9,000.