Indictment: Groves woman intoxicated when she crashed into bushes, had child passenger under 15 years of age

Published 4:57 pm Thursday, August 15, 2024

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A Groves woman that crashed into the bushes at a local cemetery reportedly had a number of wine bottles in her SUV while traveling with a child under the age of 15.

The woman, identified as Kasey Marie Westbrook, 31, was indicted by a Jefferson County grand jury this week on a charge of driving while intoxicated with a child under the age of 15.

Texas Department of Public Safety troopers responded to the crash May 7 on Twin City Highway at 39th Street in Port Arthur. Upon arrival the trooper found the SUV partly blocking the outside northbound lanes of the roadway with the front end crashing into the cemetery bushes, according to the probable cause affidavit.

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A child passenger was being cleaned up by EMS while the driver was still sitting behind the steering wheel.

The trooper reportedly saw a total of two, four packs of Sutter Home White Zinfandel wine, 187 ml bottles on the floorboard. Two wine bottles were still sweating and cold to the touch sitting in the carton and a total of six empty wine bottles were later located, according to the document.

Westbrook was asked to exit the vehicle through the passenger side and she complied. As she walked to the patrol unit she had to be physically held by two Port Arthur Police Offices for her safety; she was unable to walk on her own.

The trooper drove to the nearby Starbucks parking lot, as it was a safer location. While there she was asked to exit the vehicle and was unsteady on her feet, her body swaying while standing in front of the patrol unit.

Westbrook was unable to tell the trooper what occurred and denied having consumed alcohol.

A witness still on scene stated she saw Westbrook driving recklessly for miles. In addition, she was allegedly seen reaching over to the passenger side a couple of times and falling asleep behind the wheel before the crash occurred, the document read.

She showed multiple signs of intoxication and the trooper noted six of the possible six signs of intoxication on the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus. She was unable to perform the Walk and Turn or the One Leg Stand due to her condition and her safety.

She was placed under arrest for driving while intoxicated with a child under 15 years of age. She refused to provide a specimen of blood and a blood search warrant was signed by Judge Gerald Eddins.