Woman charged with child abuse after driving drunk into ditch with kid: police
Katherine oversees editorial operations across all six brands. Before joining The Meridan Group, she spent 14 years at the Minneapolis Star Tribune, where she led the metro desk through its digital transformation. She holds a Master's in Journalism from Northwestern's Medill School.
More from Katherine →
A St. Petersburg woman was charged with child abuse on Tuesday after receiving her third DUI when she crashed into a ditch with an 11-year-old girl in the vehicle, authorities said.The Pinellas Park Police Department arrested 40-year-old Laura Kasica. Kasica was driving when she crashed into a ditch near 47th Street North and 62nd Avenue North at about 6:06 a.m., according to a police report.After a tow truck pulled the vehicle from the ditch, Kasica tried to drive away but was stopped by police. Officers said she exhibited signs of impairment and was arrested on a DUI charge, her third offense.The 11-year-old girl told officers she saw Kasica drinking and showed police where Kasica had hidden a container of alcohol, officials said.The report did not mention the child's condition.Kasica was booked into the Pinellas County Jail without bond.