Jonesboro, AR – (JonesboroRightNow.com) – Jonesboro police arrested a woman after they said she crashed head-on into another vehicle while driving with a blood alcohol content (BAC) more than double the legal limit and an improperly secured child in the back seat.
Circuit Judge Barbara Halsey found probable cause Dec. 23 to charge 20-year-old Precious Erena Lee Ross, of Augusta, AR, with the following:
- Class D Felony: First-degree endangering the welfare of a minor
- Class C Misdemeanor: Possession of an open container containing alcohol in a motor vehicle
- Unclassified: DWI (driving or boating while intoxicated)
- Unclassified: Second-degree careless and prohibited driving (recklessly causes serious injury while intoxicated)
- Unclassified: Child passenger protection (no child restraint)
- Unclassified: Purchase, possession of intoxicating liquor by a minor
According to the affidavit, on Dec. 21, Jonesboro police officers responded to a two-vehicle crash at Highland Drive and Red Wolf Boulevard.
Upon arrival, it was determined that the victim was stopped and waiting for a signal to turn onto Highland from Red Wolf. A second vehicle, driven by Ross, was traveling north in the inside lane.
As Ross entered the intersection, she veered to the left, striking the victim’s vehicle head-on, resulting in heavy damage and disabling both vehicles, according to the affidavit.
The affidavit said Ross’s one-year-old son was a passenger in the rear seat during the crash. Officers determined the child was not properly secured in his car seat.
The affidavit goes on to say that the victim in the other vehicle was taken to a hospital for a broken wrist but was later transferred to a medical facility in Memphis for reconstructive surgery due to the “severity of the fracture.”
During the investigation, officers saw multiple signs of impairment in Ross. Police said she admitted to drinking alcohol before the crash, and an open container of alcohol was found within reach of the driver’s seat. A BAC test also yielded a result of 0.19%, exceeding the legal limit of 0.08%. She was arrested.
Ross is being held in the Craighead County Detention Center on a $75,000 cash/surety bond. She is also ordered to wear a BAC ankle monitor upon release.
Ross’s next court appearance is scheduled for Feb. 27, 2026.
