911 Callers Help Catch Mom Allegedly Driving Drunk With 2 Young Children In Car: Marin CHP

MILL VALLEY, CA – A Santa Rosa woman was arrested Monday near a U.S. Highway 101 on-ramp in Mill Valley after she endangered her two young children while driving with a suspected blood-alcohol concentration of more than three times the legal limit, the California Highway Patrol reported.

Marin CHP officers began pursuing the woman — later identified as 25-year-old April Davis — after receiving calls at about 12:50 p.m. Monday about a reckless and possibly impaired driver on southbound U.S. 101 in Novato, according to CHP Marin Area Spokesman Andrew Barclay.

"Multiple callers to 911 stated that a green Jeep Cherokee was driving in and out of traffic at a high rate of speed and was nearly colliding with other vehicles as well as running off the road," Barclay said.

Using information gleaned from 911 callers, CHP officers spotted the Jeep on southbound U.S. 101 as Davis passed Sir Francis Drake Boulevard. An officer attempted to stop Davis as she approached Mill Valley, but she allegedly continued driving in "such a dangerous manner that the officer had to run a traffic break across all lanes to keep the Jeep from colliding with other vehicles," according to Barclay.

Davis eventually pulled over to the right at the Seminary Drive on-ramp in Mill Valley, Barclay said.

Officers approached the Jeep and spoke with Davis, who allegedly showed signs of being intoxicated. They also saw that she had her 2-year-old son and 4-year-old daughter in the vehicle with her.

Officers conducted a DUI investigation, then placed Davis under arrest.

"Based on field sobriety tests, officers estimate Davis was driving with a blood-alcohol concentration over three times the legal limit of .08 percent," Barclay said.

Davis was booked into Marin County Jail on suspicion of several charges, including misdemeanor DUI and misdemeanor DUI with a BAC of 0.08 percent or greater; felony child endangerment; a penalty enhancement of DUI with minor passengers; and a penalty enhancement of driving with a BAC greater than 0.15 percent.

Her young son and daughter were taken to the Marin CHP office, where they were released to a family member.

The case has also been forwarded to Child Protective Services for review, according to Barclay.

"The CHP would like to remind drivers to please call 911 if they see a reckless or possibly impaired driver," Barclay said. "In this case, two young children were removed from a dangerous situation after concerned and alert citizens called to report a dangerous driver."

Image via James Palinsad, Flickr, used under Creative Commons