INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — A woman who deputies said drove at a high speed while intoxicated before crashing the vehicle in a ditch – seriously injuring herself along with her daughter – was jailed last week. The 5-year-old girl had to undergo surgery for a fractured left femur, reports show.
Alondra Daniela Castro Rios, 24, of the 300 block of 8th Avenue, Vero Beach, was charged with DUI seriously bodily injury to another and DUI with person under 18 in the vehicle. Castro Rios was released Feb. 28 from the Indian River County Jail on a $55,000 bond.
The wreck happened about 10 p.m. Jan. 6 in the 8200 block of 9th Street Southwest, just east of I-95. Several witnesses spoke with Indian River County sheriff’s deputies about the events leading up to the crash.
The witnesses said that a vehicle crashed into a ditch with water and the engine was smoking, reports show. Deputies went to the area and saw a red 2016 Dodge Journey in a canal that runs along the south side of Oslo Road, officials said.
A witness carried the girl from the vehicle and away from the ditch line. Another witness helped Castro Rios get out of the sports utility vehicle, reports show.
Deputies spoke with Castro Rios, who they said smelled of alcohol and had bloodshot, watery eyes. Witnesses said they saw the Dodge earlier not moving while at a green light on 20th Street near 82nd Avenue.
When a motorist honked their horn, the Dodge’s driver turned into another lane and began traveling at a high speed, reports show. During the investigation, deputies discovered Castro Rios was driving at 95 mph in a 45 mph zone.
Deputies learned neither the mother nor the daughter were wearing seat belts at the time of the crash. There was no car seat or booster seat in the SUV, reports show.
The mother and daughter were both taken to HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital in Fort Pierce. The girl underwent a surgical procedure where doctors inserted two nails in her knee, five bolts in her leg along with a steel plate, reports show.
Deputies arrested Castro Rios upon her release. Castro Rios has an arraignment at 8:45 a.m. April 4, court records show.
