Mother arrested on suspicion of DUI after two children injured in crash
ELIZABETH TOWNSHIP (KDKA) — Two children under the age of 10 are recovering after a car crash in Elizabeth Township where police say their mother was driving under suspicion of alcohol and narcotics.
KDKA-TV's Lauren Linder spoke exclusively with the driver of the other vehicle. She said it hadn't crossed her mind the woman may have been impaired.
Police said they were called to respond to the area of McKeesport Road by Lovedale Road around 4 p.m. on Thursday afternoon. Court documents said witnesses saw a car hit a vehicle traveling west, causing it to lose control, strike a barrier and knock over a sign.
Stephanie Coulson was leaving Giant Eagle. She said she had just turned left out of the parking lot after patiently waiting for traffic to clear.
"There was nothing coming and I pulled out," Coulson said.
Seconds later, she felt something hit her.
"My first thought was where did this car come from?" Coulson said.
She pulled over, got out of her car and turned around to see another car sitting atop the edge of a concrete bridge.
"I see this young lady sitting on the ground, and she had this little boy with her and his mouth was all bloody," Coulson said.
The woman then got another boy out of the car.
"She was very shaky, which I just took as she was upset. She was nervous," Coulson said.
It wasn't long before officers and EMTs arrived. Police said 32-year-old Kristi Assenti was driving the car with her sons, ages 8 and 4. Officials said neither kid was restrained in the vehicle, with the 8-year-old striking the front windshield and the 4-year-old striking the front passenger seat during the crash.
First responders transported them to the hospital.
According to court documents, officers said they found a bottle of Xanax and packages of Suboxone in Assenti's purse but learned she only had a prescription for Xanax.
After conducting a series of field sobriety tests, officers said they also determined Assenti "was impaired and/or intoxicated during the crash." They took her into custody on charges, including multiple counts of endangering the welfare of children and DUI for alcohol and narcotics.
Coulson learned the news hours later.
"Those children shouldn't have been in that car," Coulson said. "It's a scary thing. I honestly don't understand it. To me, there's no reason, especially in today's society. Pick up the phone and call an Uber."
She's upset knowing that things could have been much worse.
"There's no reason to drive. You could really hurt someone. You could kill someone," Coulson said.
At this time, the children remain at the hospital, and their conditions are unknown. Police told KDKA-TV Assenti was released due to a custody situation, with expectations to appear in court at a later date.
