BRUCETON MILLS, W.Va. (WBOY) — A woman has been charged after allegedly driving drunk and causing a 4-year-old to be transported to the hospital in Preston County.

On June 22, troopers with the Preston County detachment of the West Virginia State Police received a call of a collision in the area of Compressor Station Road in Bruceton Mills involving two vehicles, and that one of the drivers “was possibly intoxicated,” according to a criminal complaint.

When troopers arrived, they made contact with Ashleigh Ireland, 31, of Bruceton Mills, and troopers observed her to be “disoriented, have slurred speech and to have glassy, watery eyes,” along with “the odor of alcohol emitting from [her] person,” troopers said.

Also in the vehicle with Ireland was a 4-year-old child in the rear passenger seat, who was later transported to Preston Memorial Hospital for treatment, where medical records indicate that the child “sustained a fracture to the left [tibia] […] just below the knee,” according to the complaint.

While speaking with troopers, Ireland “made statements about being the driver” of one of the vehicles, and troopers needed to escort the victim to be examined by EMS, during which time, troopers “had to assist her walking due to [Ireland] being unsteady,” troopers said.

Witnesses on scene told troopers that Ireland “knew [Ireland] to be intoxicated due to her ‘day drinking’,” and in an interview with troopers, Ireland “admitted to ‘killing’ a bottle of Pinnacle vodka” and also admitted to “not restraining [the 4-year-old child] in a car seat with a seat belt,” according to the complaint.

Ireland has been charged with child neglect causing serious bodily injury. She is being held in Tygart Valley Regional Jail on $20,000 bond.

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