The Madison Fire Department was able to successfully get all occupants of the vehicle out. Emergency crews provided medical treatment to all of the car’s occupants who ranged in age from 10 months to 43-years old.
According to the Madison Police, Johnson was babysitting her grandchildren when she decided to take them in the car for a drive. She had to be taken to UW Hospital for treatment of her injuries and to be given Narcan. She was unresponsive at the hospital, but after the Narcan was administered she admitted to taking methadone, oxycodone, and gabapentin before getting behind the wheel. Once she was conscious she was also able to identify the children in the vehicle and the police contacted their parents.
Sarah L. Johnson is facing potential first-offense OWI with a passenger who was under 16-years-of-age. She also is looking at second-degree reckless endangerment.
The police confirmed that there were no appropriate car seats for the children in the car. When contacted, the mother of one of the children explained that her work was close by and she could have given Johnson a car seat if traveling was necessary.
There were three children in total in the car and they were all taken to UW Hospital. Only the youngest child required admittance.
Our thoughts are with the injured children and their family.
Intoxicated Driving Accidents In Madison
There is nothing more reckless and dangerous than getting behind the wheel while intoxicated on drugs or alcohol. Putting children in such a dangerous situation, and especially without car seats is abhorrent. Between the years of 1995 to 2013, drivers high on illicit drugs accounted for 8% of all fatal accidents. Drunk drivers and drivers who ingested drugs during this time made up a combined 25% of all fatal accidents, which comes out to 267,598 lives lost. Car crashes are the leading cause of death for children aged 3 to 14 in the U.S. and in 2017 794 children died in crashes. Out of all of these deaths, 37% of the children were not properly restrained.
If your loved one was injured by a reckless driver and sustained injuries the Janesville automobile accident attorneys at the Alexander J. Smith Law Offices will fight on your behalf to protect your legal rights and help you obtain the most compensation for your damages. The Janesville personal injury lawyers at Alexander J. Smith Law Offices will help you with your personal injury claim so you can focus on recovery.
Call us today to set up a free consultation at (608) 237-7035 for residents of Wisconsin or (815) 2439686 for residents of Illinois. One of our highly knowledgeable Wisconsin and Illinois personal injury attorneys is here to discuss your accident situation.
Note: As a result of the secondary sources that were used to complete this post, the information included within has not been independently verified by our own staff and may include misinformation. If you read something that, to your knowledge, is incorrect, please contact us as soon as possible and we will correct the inaccuracy.
Disclaimer: As members of the local community, we hope everyone in our community is safe and protected. We cover the events included in this blog as a way to offer support to the victims in similar circumstances and to provide relief during these difficult times. However, this information should not be misconstrued as legal advice, and you should speak with a trained legal professional for more information regarding your situation.