Child Care Worker Charged with Driving Drunk with 5 Year Old in Car

Merrimack Police arrested a woman on Friday for drunken driving with her 5-year-old daughter in the car.

Casey Hobbs Lever, 29, of 23-B Styles Road, New Boston is charged with aggravated driving while intoxicated and four counts of endangering the welfare of a child. 

On Friday, Merrimack Police received a report of an intoxicated subject leaving a local business with a child. The caller gave the vehicle description along with the license plate number. Responding officers located the vehicle as it was traveling on Twin Bridge Road and stopped it at the intersection of Daniel Webster Highway. After an investigation, the operator, identified as Lever, showed signs of impairment and was taken into custody for operating under the influence of liquor. Her 5-year-old daughter was in the vehicle at the time and was transported to the police station, where she was later released to her father.

During the investigation, officers learned that Lever had been working at a local child care center when she was asked to leave due to her sobriety. It was also learned that Lever’s duties at this child care center was to care for three infants – a 2 months old, a 5 month old and an 11 month old – and that Lever had been caring for these children prior to being asked to leave.

The child care center is cooperating with police and all parents of the involved children were notified about this incident by the center and by the officers. Police are continuing their investigation and have also notified the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, Child Care Licensing Unit.

Lever was held on $1,500 cash bail. She was transported to Valley Street Jail in Manchester and will be arraigned in the 9th Circuit Court on Monday.