Massachusetts

Mother Accused of Driving Drunk With Child Inside Car

A Massachusetts mother is facing charges after a bystander's concern led to her being arrested for drunk driving with her child in the car.

Chicopee police say 37-year-old Marie Rivera of Springfield will be arraigned on OUI liquor, child endangerment while OUI, marked lanes violation and failing to stop for a police officer.

Authorities say an officer doing property checks for businesses around 3 a.m. Friday noticed a bystander trying to get his attention.

The bystander, who the officer could tell was extremely panicked, said he was trying to stop a woman whom he thought was drunk and driving with a child in the back of her vehicle.

The officer found the car, which was allegedly speeding away from him down Chicopee Street and then onto Springfield Street. He also noticed the car going down the middle of the road, police said.

The car eventually stopped on Center Street, but not before allegedly driving half in the breakdown lane and half in the travel lane.

When the officer approached Rivera's vehicle, he noticed a 2-year-old child sleeping in a car seat in the back and the smell of alcohol when the driver rolled down the window, police said.

Rivera allegedly told the officer she had only been drinking cups of Bacardi, and just wanted to go home. She also allegedly failed sobriety tests.

Police say the child's father arrived on the scene, and took custody of the 2-year-old.

Rivera was taken to Chicopee Police Department's headquarters, where she was processed and will be in court on Friday morning at 9 a.m. for her arraignment.

Police also notified the Department of Children and Families.

It's not clear if she has an attorney.

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