A Florida woman is facing criminal charges after police say she drove drunk at high speed with her son inside the vehicle before crashing in Orlando. The frightening incident became even more emotional after the child reportedly called 911 and begged dispatchers for help.
Florida Woman Charged After Alleged DUI Crash With Son Inside Car
Katina Yvette Graham, 52, has been charged with felony third-degree child abuse and misdemeanor DUI involving a minor passenger, according to Orange County court records.
Authorities say the crash happened shortly after midnight on April 27 near West Central Boulevard and Wilbe Avenue in Orlando, Florida.
Police claim Graham was speeding before losing control of the vehicle and crashing.
Son Reportedly Called 911 Begging For Help
According to investigators, Graham’s son was inside the vehicle during the crash.
After the accident, the child reportedly called 911 in a panic and asked emergency responders for help.
In the recorded call, the boy allegedly told dispatchers:
“My mom … she almost hit a car, she was going over 100 on the highway.”
After sharing their location, the child reportedly became emotional and cried while saying:
“I need help.”
The disturbing 911 call later became part of the police investigation.
Police Say Driver Was Intoxicated
When officers arrived at the scene, they spoke with Graham and observed several signs of intoxication, according to the arrest affidavit.
Police claimed she:
- Smelled strongly of alcohol
- Had slurred speech
- Repeatedly interrupted officers
- Failed field sobriety exercises
Authorities also stated that Graham allegedly admitted she had consumed “half a shot of whatever” before driving.
According to investigators, she repeatedly told officers that “officers are not artificial intelligence” during questioning.
Investigators Say Child Was Left Alone Earlier
The arrest affidavit also claims that Graham had earlier left someone alone inside a vehicle for nearly two hours while she attended a party and became intoxicated.
Police included this information as part of the child abuse investigation connected to the case.
Charges Filed Against Graham
Graham is currently facing the following charges:
| Charge | Details |
|---|---|
| Third-degree child abuse | Felony charge |
| DUI with a minor present | Misdemeanor charge |
Court records show that Graham has pleaded not guilty to the charges filed against her.
Current Status Of The Case
Graham is no longer listed as an inmate at the Orange County Jail.
As of now, online court records do not show a future court hearing date in the case.
Authorities continue to investigate the incident while prosecutors review the evidence connected to the alleged DUI crash.
DUI Cases Involving Children Raise Serious Concerns
Incidents involving drunk driving with children inside vehicles often lead to serious criminal charges because of the high risk of injury or death.
Law enforcement agencies continue to warn drivers about the dangers of impaired driving, especially when minors are involved.
The emotional 911 call made by the child has also drawn attention online, with many people expressing concern for the boy’s safety and well-being after the frightening crash.
