Two Children Die after Drunk Driver Hits Pole, Overturns Vehicle
According to multiple media outlets, a woman accused of drunk driving crashes her SUV with eight children inside, killing two and hospitalizing six others in Fernandina Beach, Florida.
Charges Pending for Driver
The driver, 33-year-old Tonya Naomi Capallia-Eason, had alcohol in her system at the time of the crash, according to Florida Highway Patrol. Capallia-Eason failed to handle a curve and lost control of her vehicle on Lonnie Crews Road.
According to media outlets, Capallia-Eason crossed lanes, left the road and crashed into a utility pole, overturning her SUV with eight children inside.
Two of the children, Nehemiah Capallia-Bird, 8, and Nicholai Capallia, 9, died in the crash. Six other children received treatment at Jacksonville Hospital, ranging in age from 7 to 15. The 7-year-old suffered from critical injuries in the fatal crash.
Capallia-Eason wore a seatbelt during the crash, reports media outlets. It is unclear whether all of the children were properly restrained. Charges for the woman are pending the results of the ongoing investigation.
Important Information on Impaired Driving
The following information regarding impaired driving is provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
- 9,967 people died in alcohol-impaired-driving crashes in 2014 – this accounts for 31 percent of all traffic-related deaths in the United States.
- In 2014, 19 percent of children killed in traffic crashes died in alcohol-impaired-driving crashes.
- Over 1.1 million drivers were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or narcotics.
