LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A 3-month-old boy is dead after a fiery crash Thursday morning in the Newburg neighborhood, and the child's mother is charged in her death.Â
Lyillie Pena, 18, was arrested after the crash and charged with vehicular homicide, DUI, wanton endangerment and criminal mischief.
The crash happened around 5:40 a.m. at the intersection of Newburg Road and East Indian Trail, according to a news release from Louisville Metro Police spokesperson John Bradley. According to the arrest citation, investigators determined that's where a 2013 Dodge Dart driven by Pena crashed into the back of a Ford Escape and burst into flames.Â
Police arrived at the scene to find Pena outside her burning vehicle, holding the injured infant, according to the arrest citation. The child was taken to Norton Children's Hospital in critical condition but was pronounced dead at 8:44 a.m.
The driver of the Ford Escape was not injured. He told police he was approaching the traffic light at East Indian Trail when he saw a vehicle barreling toward him before it hit his rear bumper and pushed him into the grassy median.Â
An LMPD detective who interviewed Pena at Norton Children's Hospital said she had "glossy eyes" with the smell of alcohol on her breath. She was also unsteady on her feet and aggressive.
When asked if she had been drinking, Pena told the detective "she had consumed 99 proof alcohol around 10 p.m. last night." Police said she also admitted to taking Adderall, according to the citation.Â
Pena refused to take a portable breathalyzer at the scene, but a blood draw at the hospital showed her blood alcohol content level was .039.Â
Pena is scheduled to be arraigned Nov. 1.Â
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