Utah woman booked, allegedly picked up her children while intoxicated

VINEYARD, Utah — A 32-year-old Vineyard woman was arrested Friday after authorities say she picked her children up at school and drove with them in the car while she was intoxicated and had used marijuana.

The incident happened around 3:15 p.m. after staff at an elementary school in Vineyard noticed a woman, who they believed to be intoxicated, trying to pick up her 10-year-old daughter and 7-year-old son.

“Staff did not want to let the children go in the car with the woman because of her condition, so the woman got angry and went to sit in her car adjacent to the school playground,” read a Friday evening press release from the Utah County Sheriff’s Office.

A woman arrived at an elementary school in @vineyardcity to pick up her children. School staff believed she was intoxicated and contacted law enforcement and @UCSO Deputies responded. The woman was arrested for DUI and more. The children were not injured. https://t.co/cSEQyHqfYT

— Utah County Sheriff (@UCSO) August 20, 2022

When deputies arrived on scene, authorities say the children ran from staff, jumped over a fence and got in the car with their mother, who drove away from the school.

As deputies were out looking for her, they received information that she was at a nearby gas station.

When they found the woman, she had a strong odor of alcohol, according to the release. Deputies say she failed field sobriety tests and was arrested for DUI.

“At the gas station, deputies learned the woman had asked a stranger to take one of her children back to the school. Deputies found that child at the school with school staff.  The children were later released to another family member,” the release stated.

Deputies said the woman submitted to chemical tests at the jail, but the results of those tests are pending.

She was booked into the Utah County Jail on suspicion of DUI, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving on a revoked driver license, no insurance, and a speeding warrant out of Lehi Justice Court.

Bail for the new charges has been set at $2,500, while bail on the warrant is $255.

“School staff in this incident are to be commended for noticing the condition of this woman. We are not releasing her name to protect the identity of the children,” the release concluded.