Providence Woman Charged After Wild Ride With Four Children In Her Car

PROVIDENCE, RI — A Mazda CX7, with four children in the car, tore down Prarie Avenue on Friday afternoon, state police say. They stopped the driver, Phyllis Lee Coates, 21, of Providence, at 1:05 a.m. after troopers say they saw her speeding and running stop signs through South Providence. Coates was arrested for drunk driving and child neglect. Specifically, she was charged with driving under the influence; refusal to submit to a chemical test; disorderly conduct; threatening a public official – the two troopers; and four counts of cruelty to or neglect of children.

State Police Captain Matthew Moynihan said Coates was apparently watching the children while their mother was working. Troopers were unable to immediately locate the mother; however, they did find the stepfather and turned the children over to him. The state Department for Children, Youth and Families also was contacted and advised of the incident.

The four young children in the car are ages 2, 5, 7 and 11. The three younger children were not properly secured in child safety seats or restraints, police also allege.

In addition to the criminal charges, Coates also faces several traffic citations for speeding; five counts of failure to stop at a stop sign; and three seat belt violations for failure to have the three youngest children properly restrained. The children's mother owns the car Coates was driving.

Coates gave troopers an address in Cumberland, police said. She was held for an arraignment in Sixth District Court.