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A Sag Harbor woman pleaded not guilty to charges of felony DWI and endangering the welfare of a child on Wednesday morning after a Tuesday afternoon crash that police said injured her two children and knocked down three utility poles, cutting the power to homes in Bridgehampton.
Christina Kelly, 34, was constrained by shackles when she appeared in Southampton Town Justice Court. Police said they found Ms. Kelly, who is a married homemaker, to be drunk at the time of the accident on Millstone Road in Bridgehampton Tuesday afternoon at around 4:30 p.m.
Ms. Kelly’s two daughters, who are 6 and 2 years old, were in her 2007 Range Rover, in car seats, at the time of the accident, said Southampton Town Police Sergeant Todd Bennett. The 6-year-old suffered injuries to her head, arm and knee, and the toddler had a minor injury to her face. The girls, and Ms. Kelly, who suffered a cut on her hand during the accident, were treated at Southampton Hospital.
Ms. Kelly lost control of her car as she was traveling southbound on Millstone Road, crossed into the northbound lane, onto the northbound shoulder, and struck a utility pole, according to police. There were live wires on the ground because the poles fell.
Sgt. Todd Bennett did not know where Ms. Kelly was traveling to or from at the time of the accident. The rain was was coming down in sheets, road conditions were poor and Ms. Kelly was driving too fast when the crash occurred, Sgt. Bennett explained. He did not know the exact speed at which Ms. Kelly was traveling.
Ms. Kelly was charged with aggravated DWI, a felony, because children were in the car, Sgt. Bennett said. She was also charged with two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor.
Child Protective Services responded to Southampton Hospital and placed the girls in the custody of their grandparents, according to a press release from the Southampton Town Police. Ms. Kelly’s parents, who declined to give their names, posted $5,000 bail for their daughter, and she was released. Her next court date is May 27.
About 33 people had no electricity in their homes because Ms. Kelly knocked over three utility poles in the accident. Most of the electricity was restored to the homes by 7 p.m., according to Long Island Power Authority officials.
Traffic was diverted from Millstone Road to Noyac Road for at least three hours, Sgt. Bennett said.
