Colorado mother charged in crash that killed her 10-year-old child, police say

A woman in Colorado has been taken into custody after her 10-year-old child died in a car crash while she was under the influence behind the wheel, police say.

Police in Brighton, Colorado, suspect that speed and alcohol played a part in the one-vehicle crash.

Investigators say four people were in the vehicle when the driver, Karena Cecil, 27, lost control, drifted off the road and rolled in the median, according to CBS Denver.

Cecil’s 10-year-old son was killed in the crash. A man and her other child suffered minor injuries, according to police.

Cecil has a long arrest record that dates back to 2015, CBS Denver reported. She’s faced multiple charges, including DUI, habitual traffic offender — driving after revocation and driving without insurance.

In Oct. 2017, she was arrested for vehicular eluding, second-degree kidnapping and DUI “with excessive alcohol,” CBS Denver reported. Cecil pleaded guilty to DUI and vehicular eluding, but the other charges were dropped.

She also pleaded guilty to another DUI in May 2019.

In connection to the most recent crash, Cecil was charged with vehicular homicide, careless driving causing injury, two counts of child abuse, revoked driving status, DUI and no proof of insurance.