Mother with sons in car faces DUI charges

PROVIDENCE —

Thirty-year-old Carol Salgado hid her face as she faced a judge in district court Friday in Providence.

The accusations against the young mother are embarrassing, as she's accused of drunk driving with her two four-year-old sons in the back seat.

Salgado entered a plea of not guilty and released on her own recognizance. She is due back in court at the end of the month.

Rhode Island State Police said incidents like this happen more than they like.

"I can recall probably six incidents over the last year where we arrested someone for DUI and they have young children in the vehicle," said Capt. William Jamieson. "Probably, [with] the level of intoxication, they're not thinking. All they're trying to do is get home."

According to a report acquired by NBC 10 News, police in Swansea received several calls on March 29 about someone in a blue Lexus driving erratically on 195 west heading into Rhode Island.

East Providence Police pulled over the car after three in the morning. Officers identified Salgado as the driver. State Police are handling the case because she was arrested in Providence.

The Police report noted that Salgado smelled of alcohol. She also had blurry eyes, slurred speech and was covered in vomit and possibly urine.

Her two young sons were in the back seat.

"The DUIs themselves are a dangerous situation," Jamieson said. "People driving after they've been drinking pose a serious risk to themselves and other motorists on the roadway. When you put the young children in a car in that mix, it's even more dangerous for those children."

Police report that Salgado said she had been drinking at a house party in Cumberland, but wanted to get her sons home.

There are enhanced penalties for drunk driving with a child in the car, but that's not all she's in trouble for. Officers also said Salgado's children were not in proper child seats.

"They just had a buckle - a seat buckle - on them, which is also very dangerous," Jamieson said. "Those are civil charges through the Rhode Island Traffic Tribunal, and she was cited accordingly."

After the arrest, state police contacted DCYF. The department is getting the proper treatment for the family.

Salgado refused to take a breathalyzer, but police said she failed several field sobriety tests.