Wreck caused by drunken driver leads to emergency delivery for pregnant woman, police say

Police say a woman was arrested after driving under the influence and crashing into another vehicle, seriously injuring a passenger who was pregnant. (WFIE)
Published: Nov. 11, 2024 at 3:56 AM MST
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EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WFIE/Gray News) - Police say an Indiana woman accused of driving under the influence crashed into another car, causing serious injuries to a female passenger who was pregnant.

Police say witnesses told them they saw 28-year-old Cassandra Tokarski cross double yellow lines to pass another vehicle and go through a stop sign before colliding with another car in an intersection in Evansville. Both occupants of the other car, including a pregnant passenger, were taken to the hospital, WFIE reports.

According to authorities who later went to the hospital, the pregnant woman underwent an emergency delivery of her child and was told the newborn was “sick.” They say they were told by hospital staff the pregnant woman forcefully hit the back of the front passenger seat during the collision.

Hospital officials say the baby had to be resuscitated upon delivery and is currently in the neonatal intensive care unit.

Officers on scene say they smelled alcohol coming from Tokarski and saw alcoholic beverages in her vehicle. She was taken into custody after officers performed sobriety tests.

Police say they reviewed security footage from a nearby store that showed Tokarski entering the other vehicle’s lane of travel, which resulted in the crash.

Tokarski was medically cleared and booked in the Vanderburgh County Jail for several charges, including operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated. She is being held on a $5,000 bond.