Woonsocket Woman Charged With DUI Had 2 Children In The Car: Attorney General Neronha

WOONSOCKET, RI — A Woonsocket woman faced new charges this month following accusations she drove intoxicated with two children in the car in October 2022, Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha said Monday. Prosecutors said the mother had her two young children in the car when she got in a head-on collision, and both suffered injuries.

On April 5, Neronha's office charged Erika Ahrens, 22, with driving under the influence resulting in serious bodily injury, driving to endanger resulting in seriously bodily injury, driving to endanger resulting in physical injury, two counts of cruelty/neglect of a child and one count of driving under the influence with a child in the vehicle.

According to court documents, on Oct. 29, 2022, Ahrens drove her car while intoxicated and having her 1-year-old and 2-year-old children in the car. She got into a head-on crash, leaving the 2-year-old with serious injuries, while the younger child was also injured, prosecutors said.

The defendant is scheduled for a pre-arraignment conference on June 15, in Providence County Superior Court.