A July 9 car chase involving an allegedly drunk driver ended when Samantha Cherry, of Confluence, Pennsylvania, crashed her vehicle in Markleysburg. Police had chased her from Maryland to Pennsylvania for approximately 30 miles.

State police found two toddlers in the vehicle. Along with facing charges for driving under the influence, Cherry has also been charged with endangering the welfare of children.

Penalties for such charges can be severe. If you're ever charged with this type of crime, having a strong defense can play a significant role not only in your case's outcome but also in your overall future. Learn more about how we at the LLF Law Firm Criminal Defense Team can help in these circumstances by submitting your information through our online contact form or calling us at 888-535-3686 today.

Police Chase Woman After Others Express Concern for Wellbeing

The chase began when Cherry, who is the mother of the children Maryland State Police discovered in her vehicle, left a pawn shop. Apparently, her behavior sparked concern among others who feared for her wellbeing.

Someone evidently contacted police, who followed Cherry as she attempted to evade them, driving from Maryland back to Pennsylvania.

Maryland State Police Find Children in Vehicle

At some point, police lost track of Cherry's vehicle. They discovered it as part of a two-vehicle collision.

Cherry had fled the scene by the time Maryland State Police arrived. Inside the vehicle, they found two three-year-old boys, apparently Cherry's sons. According to an official police statement, “The vehicle was turned off with the windows closed and the doors shut. The boys were unharmed, fortunately.”

Maryland State Police also indicated the temperature at the time of the crash was around 88 degrees, and the humidity was high. Factors such as these may play a role in eventual legal proceedings. Cherry could already face significant penalties for allegedly driving drunk with children in the vehicle. The fact that she allegedly fled the scene and locked children in a hot vehicle could also potentially influence sentencing.

Alleged Drunk Driver Made Serious Mistakes

Naturally, getting behind the wheel when you're intoxicated is always extremely unwise. However, Cherry made several additional mistakes here that could negatively affect the outcome of her case.

First, she attempted to evade the police. While she may have done so out of fear of legal penalties, knowing she was intoxicated, she nevertheless made the situation much worse for herself (and much more dangerous for the children in the vehicle) by trying to get away. Attempting to flee the scene after crashing her vehicle was yet another bad decision in a series of poor choices.

Cherry should have pulled over and cooperated with police to a reasonable extent (without admitting guilt or making any statements that could be used against her) once she realized they were following her with their lights on. If she wanted to protect herself, calling a lawyer would have been her best option.

You have this option if you're ever in trouble for child endangerment or similar crimes. At the LLF Law Firm, our Criminal Defense Team is prepared to offer the defense you deserve. Get started today by submitting our online contact form or calling our offices at 888-535-3686.