Woman charged with DUI after multiple crashes with kids in car

An Orlando woman was arrested in Polk County last week for allegedly driving under the influence with two young children and a 27-year-old passenger in the car.

On Friday at 8 p.m., Ashauntie Cox, 32, was driving southbound on U.S. Highway 27 when she struck a Chevy Silverado near Frostproof, the Sheriff ’s Office said. After the crash, deputies say, Cox continued to drive in her blue Kia “at a high rate of speed.”

She then crashed a second time after witnesses say Cox weaved through traffic.

The 32-year-old crashed into the back of a Honda CRV, and the collision caused Cox’s vehicle to flip several times, ejecting two children, ages 5 and 8, Sheriff ’s Office said.

The children were taken to a nearby hospital and are in critical condition. The 27-year-old woman passenger was also seriously injured in the crash, sustaining injuries to her spinal cord, hip and back, a press release from the Sheriff ’s Office said.

The CRV’s driver was transported to the hospital and treated for minor injuries.

Cox told investigators she had smoked marijuana and drank several shots of tequila earlier in the day, according to the release. She told deputies she was traveling to Avon Park to celebrate the 5-year-old’s kindergarten graduation.

Her blood was drawn for further analysis, the PCSO said.

Cox faces three counts of DUI with serious bodily injury charges.

In addition, she faces two counts of negligent child abuse with great bodily harm, one count of reckless driving, one count of DUI with property damage and one count of DUI.

The investigation is ongoing with additional charges pending, the Sherriff ’s Office said.

In a statement, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd called the incident a “blatant disregard” for the lives of the children.

“I expect a successful prosecution to hold her accountable—and let’s hope she loses her driving privileges if she’s released from jail or prison,” he wrote. “Please keep these babies and their families in your prayers.”

Cox