7-year-old jumps from car before crash in Ohio, driver faces OVI charges

A woman faces charges as she allegedly caused a crash in Warren, Ohio on Saturday morning while she was under the influence of drugs.

Police were called out to the 3800 block of Youngstown Rd. SE around 11:45 a.m. for a crash with potential injuries.

The caller informed police the driver of the at-fault vehicle was nodding off prior to the crash.

When they attended the scene, police said the suspect, 29-year-old Monique Swonger, of Warren, was slurring her words, had glossy eyes, and was having a hard time standing on her own.

Police said Swonger declined to take any sobriety tests or a blood test. She informed officers she was on methadone, the police report says.

There was also a 7-year-old at the scene when police attended the scene.

The child informed police she jumped from the vehicle prior to the crash because she was scared. The girl said she landed on her feet and wasn’t injured.

A witness at the scene also observed the child jump from the vehicle, the report said.

Both Swonger and the child were admitted to St. Joseph Warren Hospital.

Swonger is charged with OVI, failure to control and child endangerment. The penalties concerning a standard (low tier) OVI conviction may include: 1st Offense: 3 days to 6 months of jail time, fines from $375 to $1075, and a license suspension of 1 to 3 years. 2nd Offense: 10 days to 6 months of jail time, $525 to $1,625 in fines, and a license suspension of 1 to 7 years.