A late-night drive through a Memphis neighborhood ended with a smashed Nissan Maxima, a DUI arrest, and two toddlers found loose in the back seat, according to Action News 5.
Memphis police say 32-year-old Khadijah Houston was behind the wheel when officers were called to Sunset Lake Cove, off Covington Pike, shortly after midnight Monday for reports of a crash. When they got to the scene, they found two children, both under the age of four, in the back seat with no car seats and no seat belts.
The children were referred to Tennessee’s Department of Children’s Services so caseworkers could evaluate their safety. Houston allegedly told officers she believed someone was following her and that she crashed while trying to deal with that fear, according to an arrest affidavit cited by Action News 5.
Police say Houston admitted she had consumed multiple alcoholic drinks before the wreck and could not provide proof of insurance at the scene.
Why restraint matters
National data show that scenes like this can end far worse. Among child passengers killed in crashes in 2022 where restraint status was known, roughly 35 percent were unrestrained, according to the CDC.
The NHTSA reports that properly used child safety seats significantly reduce the risk of fatal injury for infants and toddlers, which is why law enforcement and safety officials constantly hammer the message about correctly installed car seats and boosters.
Charges and next steps
Houston now faces a slate of charges, including driving under the influence, reckless driving, child abuse, neglect, or endangerment, failure to exercise due care, and violating the child restraint law. She is being held on a $2,500 bond, according to Action News 5.
Shelby County court records cited by the station indicate Houston has a record of traffic violations but no prior arrests. She is scheduled to appear in Shelby County court on Tuesday morning for an initial hearing, where a judge will weigh the charges and her bond conditions.
What happened to the children
The arrest affidavit does not list any injuries to the children. Police referred the case to the Department of Children’s Services to determine what happens next and whether any additional supervision or intervention is needed.
Houston is being held at the county’s main jail and booking facility in downtown Memphis on Poplar Avenue, according to the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, which oversees inmate records and visitation details.
Investigators are still piecing together the circumstances leading up to the crash, and prosecutors will decide whether to pursue any additional charges as the case moves forward. In the meantime, safety officials are once again pointing to this incident as a harsh reminder that buckling kids in properly is not optional; it is lifesaving.
