Woman faces charges in 2021 Lothian crash involving grandchildren

Almost a year after her car slid off the road and struck a tree, a Harwood woman was charged last week with multiple drunk driving and misdemeanor offenses in a crash that Anne Arundel County police said seriously injured her two grandchildren.

Ellen Benjy Jones, 56, is charged with six counts of causing a life-threatening injury by driving under the influence, according to court records. She is also charged with several other traffic offenses related to the incident. Prosecutors filed the charges July 20.

Jones and her grandchildren were injured in a July 27, 2021, crash on Southern Maryland Boulevard near Talbot Road in Lothian. Police said Jones was driving a 1996 Honda Accord that began sliding sideways before striking a utility pole and a tree at about 7:40 p.m.

The crash ejected her 5-year-old grandson from the car, and fire crews extricated Jones and her 8-yearold granddaughter from the vehicle, according to police. The children were taken to Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C., both with serious injuries, police said. Jones was transported to University of Maryland Prince George’s Hospital

Center, also with serious injuries.

A spokesperson for the Anne Arundel County State’s Attorney’s Office declined to state the children’s current condition because they are juveniles.

In addition to the misdemeanor offenses, Jones was charged last week with reckless driving and two counts each of driving under the influence while transporting a minor and driving while impaired while transporting a minor. She did not have an attorney listed in court records and was scheduled for an initial appearance Aug. 8 in Anne Arundel Circuit Court.