Mom jailed after crash injures daughter

A Long Island mother pleaded not guilty Sunday to charges she was drunk and high when she crashed her car into a pickup truck with her 3-year-old daughter in the back seat. Authorities say the child,

News 12 Staff

May 11, 2009, 2:53 AM

Updated 5,822 days ago

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A Long Island mother pleaded not guilty Sunday to charges she was drunk and high when she crashed her car into a pickup truck with her 3-year-old daughter in the back seat.
Authorities say the child, Johnnaisa Harvey, is in critical condition with brain swelling and remains unconscious after emergency surgery. Her mother, 29-year-old Ebony Herrera of Mastic Beach, was arraigned Sunday on charges of child endangerment and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
At her arraignment, it was revealed that Herrera allegedly told cops she had been drinking and smoking marijuana shortly before she got behind the wheel. Police say Herrera was driving on Eastport Manor Road in Manorville at about 2 a.m. Saturday when she crossed into the oncoming lane and collided with the pickup. Investigators found a child seat in the car but weren't sure if it had been properly fastened.
"The baby was unconscious and she has not regained consciousness," says Detective Sgt. John Best, of Suffolk's Seventh Detectives Squad. "She had head trauma, which resulted in brain swelling ? and she also had chest trauma, which resulted in contusions and bruising to the lungs."
Judge Steven Lotto issued a restraining order against Hererra, barring her from having any further contact with her 3-year-old child. She remains jailed on $125,000 bail and is due back in court May 15.
AP wire services were used in this report.