Woman charged in DUI crash had child in car

ROSWELL, Ga. — Police say a woman was driving drunk with a child in the car when she plowed through a fence and almost plunged forty feet to the ground below.

Investigators say the wrought-iron fence is the only thing that stopped Erica Nelson, 31, and the 12-year-old from falling into a retention pond Friday night. %

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“The witness told us they saw the driver and a juvenile leave the scene of an accident,” Roswell police spokeswoman Lisa Holland said.

Officers tracked down Nelson nearby.

"When the officer spoke to the driver, he immediately noticed she was under the influence of alcohol. She was very unsteady, dropping things on the ground,” Holland said.

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Holland says Nelson’s boyfriend’s son was in the car at the time.

“The driver was hitting curbs. He told the officer the people were honking the horn at the car. He was afraid and wanted to get out of the car,” Holland said.

Channel 2’s Mike Petchenik asked Nelson for her side of the story outside her apartment in Roswell Wednesday, but she did not answer his questions.

Neighbor Qui Smith told Channel 2’s Mike Petchenik that Nelson keeps to herself.

"I see her taking care of her kids,” he said. "She's never pulled in and out of the neighborhood under the influence to me."

Petchenik also tracked down the boy's father today, but he didn't want to comment.

Nelson is facing several charges including DUI and child endangerment.

Her license is not suspended at this point, so she is allowed to drive.

Cox Media Group