A New Jersey woman rear-ended a car at a red light in Dickson City while high on prescription medication, police say, leading authorities to take custody of her children.
Korinne Bastianelli, 40, of Ocean View, faces felony child endangerment charges. She was arrested Friday night following a minor crash on Business Route 6. According to charging documents, Bastianelli rear-ended another driver who was waiting at a red light.
When officers interviewed Bastianelli, her children were in the car. Police noted she appeared heavily intoxicated, with slurred speech, drooping eyes and drowsiness. At one point, she handed officers her ID card when asked for her vehicle insurance.
Bastianelli told police she takes Suboxone three times a day and has been on the medication for five years. She failed a field sobriety test and refused a blood test.
Following her arrest, authorities took custody of Bastianelli’s children while attempting to locate other family members.
Bastianelli is being held at the Lackawanna County Prison on $5,000 bail. She faces a felony charge of child endangerment, alongside misdemeanor charges of DUI and reckless endangerment.