HIGHLAND PARK, Mich. – A Southfield woman has been charged in connection with a Highland Park car crash that injured her two children.
Hope Ashley Brown, 30, is charged with one count of operating with a high blood alcohol content causing serious injury, operating a motor vehicle while impaired, operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated with an occupant less than 14 years old, reckless driving causing serious impairment of a bodily function and operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated causing serious injury.
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Brown was taken into custody after the suspected drunken driving crash.
According to Highland Park police, the crash happened at about 9:45 p.m. Sunday at the corner of Hamilton Avenue and Grove Street, near Woodward Avenue and McNichols Road.
Police said the 30-year-old mother was driving a blue Dodge Neon when she crashed into a black SUV. Her daughters, ages 6 and 7, were not in car seats or wearing seat belts and were seriously injured. They are listed in critical condition at Children’s Hospital.
The mother was not injured and was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving. Police said she has a prior drunken driving conviction.
The driver of the SUV suffered minor injuries.
Brown is expected to be arraigned at 3 p.m. Tuesday.
Family speaks about alleged drunken driving crash
Brown's mother says her daughter should learn a lesson.
Denice Blakes said her two grandchildren, 6-year-old Faith Hodges and 7-year-old Heaven Hodges, are recovering in a hospital in stable condition. She said Faith suffered an eye injury, and Heaven had all of her front teeth knocked out in the crash.
"No, not your grandbabies, and I was in church when it happened. I just fell to my knees and prayed and got up and went to the hospital," she said.
She was not happy to hear that her daughter was suspected of driving drunk.
"What do all mothers say when they find out they drunk driving? I just say it should be a wake-up call. She's 30 years old. What you tell your children doesn't mean they're going to listen," Blakes said.
She said she knows her daughter is upset about what happened.
"I know it's eating her up more than anything," said Blakes.