A Tampa mother was arrested on Tuesday after crashing her car into a mailbox while her 9-year-old daughter and dog were in the car while she was under the influence of alcohol.
Tampa Police officers say that Wendy Walter, 43, was driving an SUV with her 9-year-old daughter and her dog when she ran into a large, solid concrete mailbox. Police say Walter then drove off before leaving any contact information behind.
Several individuals witnessed the crash but no one was injured. Police say the crash caused $16,000 worth of damages.
Walter was later pulled over during a traffic stop for driving with a severely damaged vehicle. Police say that her eyes were blood shot and watering and that she had a blank stare on her face. Walter was slurring her words when she spoke and would mumble her speech, police say. She also was unsteady on her feet and TPD noted that her breath smelled of alcohol.
Walter was arrested for DUI following field sobriety tests.
An eyewitness arrived on scene and positively identified Walter as the woman driving when the SUV struck the mailbox.
Later in police custody, Walter took two breath tests which measured .285 and .268 BrAC.
"Driving with a high BAC with her minor child in the vehicle and causing a crash was a negligent act that put her daughter's life and safety in danger," TPD wrote in their affidavit report.
Walter was charged with hit and run leaving the scene of a crash involving damage to property, DUI and child neglect without great bodily harm.
