Local

Alpharetta woman charged in hit-and-run while under the influence with child in backseat

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — A north Fulton County mother is accused of causing an accident then leading police on a brief chase while driving impaired with a toddler in the back seat.

Alpharetta police told Channel 2's Mike Petchenik that Sierra Lindgren, 35, caused a wreck on Ga. 400 about 10:30 p.m. Saturday, then continued driving.

When officers attempted to pull her over, dash cam video Petchenik obtained shows Lindgren swerving all over the road for nearly two miles.

When she finally pulled over near Windward Parkway and Ga. 400, officers could be heard telling her to put the car in park.

"Why are you all over the road like that?" an officer can be heard asking Lindgren, who has a Sandy Springs address according to an arrest report.

"Because I couldn't see," she said. "I have absolutely no road."

An incident report said that initial tests showed no alcohol in her system and the video shows it was raining hard at the time of the traffic stop.

"I've had nothing to drink," Lindgren can be heard telling officers. "Just got done babysitting."

But, Alpharetta police spokesman George Gordon said officers on the scene believe Lindgren was under the influence of narcotics. Gordon said a blood test is pending to confirm officer's suspicions.

"We absolutely believe she was impaired, especially based on the manifestations you see on the videotape of her driving," he said.

Petchenik talked by phone to hit-and-run victim, Jan Blankenstein. She said she noticed Lindgren veering into her lane and all of a sudden side swipe her car as they drove near Old Milton Parkway.

"The SUV began to make a move to the lane beside me and just kept on coming over," she said. "I was very close to the concrete divider and then there was impact."

Blankenstein said she was thankful the impact did little damage to her car and that she wasn't hurt.

"It certainly was a scenario that could have been very, very serious," she said. "I'm sorry for that woman who has problems, but people like that kill innocent people every day on the road."

The arrest report said Lindgren works at an Alpharetta preschool.

The owner of the school said he learned of the arrest after Petchenik called and immediately suspended Lindgren from working with children until the investigation was complete.

Petchenik left a voice mail for Lindgren and visited several of her last known addresses, but she did not return calls seeking comment.