Banning Mother Involved In Rage-Fueled Crash Gets Immediate Probation

BANNING, CA —A 21-year-old motorist who rammed a parked vehicle in a fit of rage while her 1-year-old child sat next to her pleaded guilty Wednesday to misdemeanor charges and was immediately sentenced to 48 months probation.

Serena Marie Lucas of Banning admitted one count each of assault, child endangerment and vandalism under a plea agreement with the Riverside County District Attorney's Office. In exchange for her admissions, prosecutors dismissed a felony assault charge.

Superior Court Judge Mark Singerton at the Banning Justice Center certified the terms of the plea deal and imposed the sentence stipulated by the prosecution and defense. In addition to the four-year term of probation, the judge ordered Lucas to enroll in a year-long domestic violence anger management program.

According to the Banning Police Department, on the afternoon of May 11, the defendant was involved in a dispute with a man well known to her in the 1200 block of Vista Serena Avenue, just south of East Theodore Street.

During the encounter, Lucas became enraged and drove her car into the victim's parked vehicle, ramming it "several times" and causing "significant damage to both vehicles," according to a police statement.

The defendant's 1-year-old child was seated in the vehicle without any safety restraints and suffered superficial injuries, police said.

Authorities alleged that while fleeing the location, Lucas aimed her vehicle at the victim, whose identity was not released, but he got out of the street in time and was not struck. It was unclear whether he was in his car when the ramming occurred.

The reasons for the attack were not disclosed.

Lucas was stopped by patrol officers headed to the scene and arrested without incident.

She had no documented prior misdemeanor or felony convictions.