Police: DWI charges after crash leaves 6-year-old girl seriously hurt

A Deer Park woman has been charged with felony driving while intoxicated under Leandra’s Law after a Christmas Day crash in Bay Shore left her 6-year-old niece with serious injuries, police said.

Latanya Mowatt, 25, of 37 Wilson Ave., lost control of her 2004 Nissan Maxima while driving south on Brookdale Avenue, north of Bay Shore Road, and struck a utility pole and two parked cars about 4:30 p.m. The car overturned and the 6-year-old was ejected, Suffolk County police said.

Mowatt and her 8-year-old daughter, who was also in the car, suffered nonlife-threatening injures. The 6-year-old had serious internal injuries. All three were taken to Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center in West Islip.

Mowatt was charged with DWI, aggravated DWI and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child. Her car was impounded for a safety check.

Police are asking those with information about the crash to call Third Squad detectives at 631-854-8352.

Leandra’s Law makes it a felony to drive impaired with a passenger under age 16, even if it’s a first offense.

The law gets its name from Leandra Rosado, 11, who was killed when the car she was riding in — driven by a drunken driver — overturned on Henry Hudson Parkway in Manhattan in 2009.