LCPD: Woman involved in wreck was driving drunk with son in car
Police say the woman suspected of driving while intoxicated and crashing into another vehicle Sunday evening has been charged with child abuse after police learned her 10-year-old son was a passenger in the vehicle.
Maria Vielma, 28, of the 3500 block of Tile Avenue, is charged with a felony count of child abuse. Police said Vielma was also charged with misdemeanor counts of aggravated DWI and operating a motor vehicle with an open container of alcohol.
Las Cruces police responded to the wreck involving two vehicles near the intersection of Espina Street and Utah Avenue at about 8:30 p.m. Sunday, April 14, 2019.
Police learned Vielma was driving a 2008 Ford Taurus south on Espina when her vehicle crossed into oncoming traffic and crashed into a Honda minivan in the northbound lane.
Police said no major injuries were reported but a passenger of the minivan, an 11-year-old boy, was transported to Mountainview Regional Medical Center after he showed signs of nausea at the scene. Vielma’s 10-year-old son escaped injury.
A responding officer allegedly observed Vielma to have bloodshot and watery eyes, slurred speech and an odor of alcohol. The officer allegedly located an open container of beer on the passenger-side of the Ford Taurus.
Vielma allegedly told police she had been drinking alcohol since about noon that day. The officer performed standard field sobriety tests on Vielma which indicated signs of impairment, police said.
Vielma was subsequently arrested on the aggravated DWI and child abuse charges. She was booked into the Dona Ana County Detention Center where she is initially being held without bond.
