Mom Accused In Rollover Accident That Killed Teen, May Have Been DUI

In California, a DUI is a serious charge. If there is a minor in the vehicle at the time, the charges can quickly escalate. There are two ways that the prosecutor or police can charge a person in this situation. There is the DUI charge, of course. Then there is the charge of having a minor in the vehicle, which can be charged as child endangerment, which is a separate charge. They can also choose to charge a DUI enhancement of DUI with a minor. No matter which charges they face, the incident will also be reported to child protective services, who will do their own investigation.

The Temecula Patch reports that a teen was killed in a rollover accident and the mom driving is accused of DUI.

39-year-old Terrina Edwards was driving a 1998 Toyota 4Runner on Interstate 215 in Murrieta on Wednesday. At about 8:35 p.m. on the southbound side of the interstate, near Los Alamos Road, Edwards lost control of the vehicle.

The car began to roll several times, coming to rest in one of the southbound lanes. During the wreck, 14-year-old Rico Edwards was ejected from the vehicle. He was not wearing a seatbelt and was seated in the front passenger seat.

According to the coroner, the teen died within minutes of the wreck. Another passenger, identified only as a 16-year-old female, was in the back seat. She was wearing her seatbelt and suffered from minor injuries.

Edwards suffered from major injuries in the accident. She was hospitalized. Once she is released, she will be booked at the Cois M. Byrd Detention Facility. She was believed to have been under the influence at the time of the accident.

She is facing charges of felony DUI, vehicular manslaughter, and child endangerment.

 

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