While patrolling on Knibbs Place on January 6th at about 7:30pm, a Saanich officer came across a 1996 Toyota van parked on the front lawn of a property.  Inside the van was woman slumped over the steering wheel.  Seated behind this woman were two small children, also asleep.  The van did not appear to have been involved in a crash, rather it simply seemed to be parked there. 

In speaking with the 31 year old Esquimalt woman, the officers quickly realized that she was impaired and arrested her.   It was learned that the woman does not live at the Knibbs Place home and had in fact been driving prior to stopping on the lawn.

The two children, a 4 year old and a 6 year old, were taken into the care of the officers and medically checked over by paramedics.  They were both OK but were cold and hungry.  The children were taken to the police department and later picked up by their father.

The woman was also taken back to the department where she provided breath samples.  Her blood alcohol readings found to be five times the legal limit of 80mg%.  Due to her extreme level of intoxication, she was taken to the hospital by paramedics.

“Driving with her children, while intoxicated so severely, could have easily ended in fatalities.  It is truly fortunate that no one came to harm by the actions of this woman” said Sgt. Julie Fast, Public Information Officer.

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