Driver unconscious with liquor in car: documents
Woman charged with fatally striking teen on Dundalk sidewalk
A 30-year-old woman charged with fatally striking a 15-year-old girl on a Dundalk sidewalk during Tuesday’s rush hour was found unconscious with 92 mini liquor bottles in the car, according to court charging documents.
The charging documents said Jennifer Jones was driving a 2006 Nissan Altima northbound on Delvale Avenue around 5:30 p.m. Tuesday when she swerved across the double line and into the southbound lane before striking Trinity Lynn Brooks on the sidewalk near the corner Martell Avenue, police said.
Jones then hit a tree, ran through a fence and continued hitting more fences as she ran through three backyards, the documents said. The Nissan only stopped after hitting a shed and another fence in the backyard of a home in the 1800 block of Marshall Road.
Several witnesses recounted the events to police, the charging documents said. Police said Jones was found unconscious in her car and had Narcan administered to her because first responders said they believed she was under the influence of opioids.
The charging documents said Jones told police she had been drinking since 10:30 a.m. and had her last drink five minutes prior to the crash. The 30-year-old from Millersville also admitted to a firefighter she had taken seven shots, the documents said.
Jones was taken to Johns Hopkins Bayview Hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. The charging documents said officers believe that Jones was “under the influence of alcohol, drugs or a combination of drugs and alcohol and unable to operate a vehicle safely.”
Police said that while searching the Nissan that Jones has been renting, they found two empty 200 ml bottles of Fireball whiskey and 92 mini-bottles of “99 brand” liquor on the front passenger side floorboard.
Jones has been charged with negligent manslaughter, Baltimore County police said. She is being held without bail and waived her rights to a bail review hearing Thursday. Court records did not list an attorney.
Baltimore County State’s Attorney Scott Shellenberger said Jones could face additional charges as investigators gather more evidence, such as blood test results.
Brooks, 15, was a freshman at Dundalk High School, Baltimore County schools spokesman Brandon Oland said. He said many of the teachers and students who knew Brooks were shocked by her death. Grief counselors and a crisis response team are being made available at the school.
“It’s obviously a very sad week at that school,” Oland said. “Our thoughts and wishes are with her family.”
Members of Brooks’ family cried and hugged each other outside their home on Wednesday afternoon. They declined a request to be interviewed, saying they needed time to process their grief and plan her funeral.
There are two GoFundMe accounts set up to help Brooks’ family with funeral costs.