Woman fleeing traffic stop crashes with children in car

A Wisconsin Rapids woman crashed her vehicle with two children in her car after fleeing a traffic stop in Fond du Lac County Early Monday morning.

Shortly after Midnight, A Wisconsin State Patrol trooper pulled the woman’s vehicle over on I-41 northbound for an equipment violation. When asked about an odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle, the woman entered the vehicle through the passenger side door and got behind the wheel and drove off at a high rate of speed. The trooper advised dispatch that there was a 12 and 13 year old in the vehicle so he wasn’t going to pursue.

A short time later, the Fond du Lac County Dispatch Center received an automatic crash alert on County N just east of 41. The trooper was the first on the scene and advised this was the vehicle that took off from the traffic stop.

The 44-year-old woman was airlifted to an area trauma center and at least one of the children was transported to Children’s Hospital in Milwaukee.

The woman faces charges of OWI 1st offense with children under 16 in the vehicle; operating after suspension causing great bodily harm; fleeing and eluding causing great bodily harm; and second-degree recklessly endangering safety.

The state patrol also says Wood County Child Protection Services was contacted about the woman’s actions with the children in the vehicle.