Police: Woman charged under Leandra's law
A 51-year-old Wading River woman was arrested and charged with felony driving while ability impaired by drugs under Leandra’s Law after police said she was stopped with her 12-year-old son in the vehicle Monday in Calverton.
Mary C. McKenna of Route 25A was charged with DWAI, DWAI under Leandra’s Law and with endangering the welfare of a child after being arrested at 5:30 p.m. on Route 25.
Riverhead Town police said her son was unharmed — and was released to the custody of his father following the arrest.
The incident began, police said, when an off-duty Riverhead police officer, who was following the 1996 Chevrolet driven by McKenna, called to report the vehicle was being operated erratically on Route 25 near Fresh Pond Avenue in Calverton. A uniformed patrol officer then initiated a traffic stop, police said, and determined McKenna showed “signs of being under the influence of drugs.” She was arrested.
Leandra’s Law is named for Leandra Rosado, an 11-year-old girl killed in October 2009 when the van she was riding in overturned on the Henry Hudson Parkway in Manhattan.
Rosado had been attending a sleepover party, authorities said, and the driver, the mother of one of the seven other girls in the van, was intoxicated, according to police. The law, enacted later that year, makes it a felony, even on first offense, to drive while intoxicated or ability impaired by drugs with a child under age 16 in the car.
McKenna is scheduled for arraignment Tuesday.
Snow totals may be less across the South Shore A winter storm is expected to pummel LI as artic air settles in across the region. NewsdayTV meteorologist Geoff Bansen has the forecast.
Snow totals may be less across the South Shore A winter storm is expected to pummel LI as artic air settles in across the region. NewsdayTV meteorologist Geoff Bansen has the forecast.
