Woman Slumped Over In Running Car With Child Charged With DWI: PD

RIVERHEAD, NY — A woman was charged with driving while intoxicated after being found slumped over in her running vehicle with a child in the car, police said.

According to Riverhead Town Police, on Monday at 4:17 p.m., a call came in from someone who was at the entrance to the Willow Ponds On the Sound condominium community on Willow Pond Drive near Sound Avenue. The caller said a woman in a blue Toyota sedan had been stopped at the entrance gate, with the vehicle's engine running, for an extended period, police said.

Another motorist, who was behind the blue Toyota and waiting to enter Willow Pond Drive, thought something might be wrong with the driver; after approaching the blue Toyota, the driver said the woman in the car appeared to be semi-conscious and very disoriented with slurred speech, police said.

In addition, the vehicle was not only running but the vehicle's transmission was in the "drive" position, police said. The other driver was able to reach inside the blue Toyota, put the vehicle into the "park" position, turn off the engine, and remove the keys from the ignition, police said.

Someone else called 911 and the driver who'd stopped to help remained with the vehicle and woman until members of the Riverhead police arrived, authorities said.

Police determined that the woman in the blue Toyota was intoxicated and had been operating the vehicle with a girl, 10, in the car, police said.

Anne G. Hansen, 52, of Greenlawn, was arrested and charged with aggravated driving while intoxicated — Leandra's Law, and endangering the welfare of a child, police said. Hansen was processed and held for arraignment, police said.

The 2004 Toyota was impounded; no injuries were reported, police said.

New York State's Leandra's Law makes it a felony on the first offense to drive while intoxicated with a person 15 or younger inside the vehicle.