A Hicksville woman was arrested last week after driving under the influence of drugs with a child in the car.
According to the Nassau County Police Department, Janine Lafiandra, 36, was driving her 2013 Mercedes Benz northbound on Main Street in Hempstead, when she collided with a 2004 Ford operated by a 66-year-old male southbound on Main Street at West Columbia Street. Lafiandra then continued northbound and was located by Garden City police officers on Franklin Avenue in Garden City.
Hempstead police officers responded to the scene and an investigation determined Lafiandra was operating under the influence of drugs. Her one-year-old son was in the backseat of the car.
Lafiandra was taken into custody without incident and her son was released to the custody of his grandmother. No injuries were reported.
Lafiandra was charged with Aggravated Driving While Intoxicated, a Leandra’s Law violation, as well as two counts of Driving While Ability Impaired and three counts of Aggravated Unlicensed Operation.
Another Long Island woman was charged last week for aggravated driving and violating Leandra’s Law. Nina Gebarowski, of Selden, was allegedly driving drunk with her daughter in the car when she hit a man and his young son who were crossing the road. The man suffered a dislocated shoulder and his son had minor injuries.
Under Leandra’s Law, first-time offenders of those found impaired by alcohol or drugs while a child younger than 16 years old is in the vehicle may be charged with a Class E felony, punishable by up to four years in state prison.
