Huntington, NY - December 27th, 2013 -  Suffolk County Police have arrested a mother that drove while intoxicated with her seven-year-old daughter and five-year-old son in the vehicle in Huntington last night.

Laquita Brooks, 39, was driving a 1998 Mercury Mystique southbound on Dix Hills Road when she apparently lost control of the vehicle 200 feet south of Dellwood Drive, left the roadway, struck a signpost and then a tree approximately 10:50 p.m.

Brooks’ seven-year-old daughter sustained a serious head injury and her five-year-old son sustained a minor head injury.  Both children, who were in the backseat of the Mercury and did not have proper child restraints, were transported to Huntington Hospital by Huntington Community First Aid Squad.  After being treated at Huntington Hospital, the 7-year-old girl was transported to Cohen Children’s Medical Center in New Hyde Park for further treatment.

Second Squad detectives arrested Brooks, of 167 Cumberbach St., Wyandanch, and charged her with one count of Aggravated Driving While Intoxicated with a Child 15 Years or Younger (Leandra’s Law), one count of Driving While Intoxicated and two counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child.

Brooks will be held overnight at the Fourth Precinct is scheduled to be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip on December 27.

The investigation is continuing.  Detectives ask anyone who may have witnesses the crash to contact the Second Squad at 631-854-8252.

A criminal charge is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Incident:         Mother Arrested for DWI; Daughter Seriously Injured
Location:        Dix Hills Road, 200 feet south of Dellwood Drive, Huntington
Date/Time:     Thursday, December 26, 2013 at approximately 10:50 p.m.