Woman arrested after driving impaired with two young children in car

NITRO, WV (LOOTPRESS) – One woman has been arrested for driving impaired with two young children in the car.

According to a criminal complaint, on Tuesday, July 9, 2024, at approximately 12:02 PM, police observed a white 2009 Lincoln MKS traveling westbound in the 1100 block of 1st Avenue South in Nitro.

The vehicle was closely tailgating a pickup truck and had a chain hanging from the rearview mirror obstructing the driver’s view.

Officers initiated a traffic stop at Rio Grande in the 500 block of 1st Avenue South.

Upon speaking with the driver, identified as 54-year-old Ruby Reneau of Nitro, officers noted signs of impairment including slurred speech, droopy eyelids, bloodshot and watery eyes, and the smell of alcohol.

Additionally, there were two small children in the vehicle—one in the front passenger seat and another in the rear passenger seat.

Visible inside the car were a Steel Reserve beer can in the center console, a Twisted Tea malt beverage can in the rear seat, and a Bowman’s vodka bottle on the driver’s seat.

Officers conducted Standardized Field Sobriety Tests. Reneau exhibited signs of impairment during the tests.

A preliminary breath test indicated she was over the legal limit for operating a vehicle.

Reneau was arrested for Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol with a Minor in the Vehicle and transported to the Nitro Police Department for processing.

After being read the West Virginia Implied Consent Statement, Reneau agreed to a secondary chemical test, yielding a BAC of 0.122.

She was read her Miranda Rights and admitted to consuming “a couple shots of vodka” earlier that morning. Reneau stated she self-medicates with alcohol.

Reneau was transported to the Kanawha County Magistrate Court for arraignment following processing.

She is currently out on bond.