By KRWG News
Las Cruces – A 29-year-old woman who crashed her vehicle into another Saturday evening, and then fled from the scene, is now charged with driving while intoxicated and child abuse for having her 4-year-old daughter along for the ride.
Michelle C. Herrera, of the 700 block of Windmill Drive, is charged with one count each of intentional child abuse, DWI, leaving the scene of an accident and driving without a license.
At around 10 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 10, Las Cruces Police were called to the 800 block of Lees Drive after a silver Honda Civic crashed into a Hyundai Santa Fe. A witness heard the crash and saw the driver of the Honda leave the scene traveling south.
The witness began following the Honda and called 911 to report the crash. The driver of the Honda, later identified as Herrera, stopped near Lynn Middle School and asked the witness to refrain from calling the police. When the witness mentioned that she had already reported the crash, Herrera got back into her vehicle and again drove off heading southbound on Triviz Drive.
The witness followed the Honda and noticed Herrera's 4-year-old daughter, unrestrained, leaning out a passenger-side window. Herrera came to a stop in a parking lot at 1020 S. Triviz Dr., removed her daughter from the vehicle and fled on foot.
A Las Cruces Police officer located Herrera and her daughter nearby. Herrera failed field sobriety tests and was arrested.
No injuries were reported as a result of the crash and Herrera's daughter was turned over to the custody of other family members. Herrera was booked into the Dona Ana County Detention Center with bond set at $10,000.