FORT PIERCE, FL — A woman accused of being intoxicated and crashing a sport utility vehicle, injuring at least five children inside, is facing more than a dozen charges, according to arrest affidavits released Thursday.
Fredrina Yvonne Johnson, 33, allegedly was behind the wheel of a Chevrolet SUV that hit a curb, stop sign and utility pole. The incident happened about 1:45 a.m. Thursday in the area of North 13th Street and Avenue O.
Police asked the Florida Highway Patrol to help in the crash, and a trooper wrote that Johnson, of the 2400 block of Seneca Avenue, was “very belligerent and verbally violent,” an affidavit states. The SUV was on its left side when the trooper arrived.
Johnson allegedly smelled strongly of alcohol and admitted drinking, but denied driving. She initially said a man who lived down the street from her was driving and fled after the crash. She then said a “phantom vehicle” hit hers and caused it to crash.
The five children inside said Johnson was drunk and driving fast. The severity of their injuries wasn’t immediately clear, nor was it clear whether they wore seat belts.
Asked whether she’d take a breath test to determine her blood-alcohol level, Johnson said, “(Expletive) this (expletive), I ain’t doing (expletive).”
The 16 charges that Johnson faces include DUI, DUI personal injury, child endangerment, DUI property damage, obstruction, resisting without violence and DUI with person under 18 in the vehicle.
