Woman Accused Of DUI Prescription Meds With 2-Year-Old Son In Car: PD

SANTA ROSA, CA — A woman is suspected of driving under the influence of prescription medication Tuesday when she crashed into a light pole with her 2-year-old son in the car, Santa Rosa police said.

Around 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, several witnesses saw a white Audi SUV collide with a light pole on the southwest corner of the intersection at Highway 12 and South Wright Road, police Sgt. Summer Gloeckner said in a news release.

The driver appeared to hit the light pole head-on at a high rate of speed, police said.

Officers and medical personnel contacted the woman, identified as Melanie Dellard, 40, of Sebastopol, and saw her son in a car seat in the back seat.

Dellard and her son were immediately transported to an area hospital with significant injuries, Gloeckner said.

An accident investigator contacted Dellard at the hospital a conducted a DUI investigation. It was determined that Dellard appeared to be under the influence of a prescription medication, police said.

Dellard suffered significant but non-life-threatening injuries. Her son suffered significant injuries and was transported to a trauma center out of the area. The boy is expected to survive his injuries, police said.

Dellard was arrested on suspicion of felony driving under the influence causing injury to another. She is also being investigated for suspected felony child endangerment, according to police.