Woman charged with DUI for crashing her car with 3 children inside

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) - A woman is facing a DUI and charges of endangering the lives of children after police said she crashed her car with her three kids inside.

On April 16, Springfield police officers were called out for a crash at South 1st St. and W. Cornell St. where a vehicle hit a legally parked car.

Officers said the driver, Magdalena Lucas, admitted her three children were in the car at the time of the accident. They said her eyes were bloodshot and watery and there was a strong smell of alcohol coming from Lucas's breath. They said she swayed and staggered while walking.

SPD said Lucas told them she had two glasses of wine before driving. Her blood alcohol content was 0.150.

Police said there were no car seats or booster seats in the vehicle for the children and added none of them were wearing seat belts.

Officers said one of the children told them he used his body to protect his siblings during the crash. All three children were taken to the hospital. One suffered a bruise to his forehead.

Lucas was arrested following the crash. She appeared in court the next day and was denied pre-trial release. She is scheduled to appear again on April 30.

Lucas is charged with three counts of aggravated DUI and three counts of endangering the life of a child.