LEWISBURG, W.Va. (WVDN) — A Lewisburg woman was arrested on multiple charges, including driving under the influence with a minor, following an incident on April 30.
Rebekah Simmons, 34, was stopped by a Lewisburg Police Department officer after her red Chevrolet pickup displayed unsafe driving behavior, exiting a Go Mart parking lot into oncoming traffic. The vehicle also had an expired registration sticker, lacked registration lights, and had a non-functional third brake light, according to the police report.
During the stop, authorities noted signs of impairment, including slurred speech. Simmons consented to field sobriety tests, which confirmed further signs of intoxication. Her daughter, a juvenile passenger, reported that Simmons had previously driven the vehicle off the road into a ditch, causing them both to hit their heads.
The child informed officers that Simmons allegedly shoplifted flowers from a closed Walmart, stating they intended to pay later. Emergency Medical Services (EMS) responded after the child complained of dizziness and blurred vision; however, Simmons declined hospital evaluation for her daughter upon arrival.
Police secured a search warrant for a blood draw to test for impairing substances. Simmons was transported to Greenbrier Valley Medical Center for the blood collection and then taken to the Southern Regional Jail.
Simmons faces charges of DUI with a minor, child neglect creating a risk of injury, shoplifting, driving without insurance, and operating with expired registration. Authorities have referred the case to Child Protective Services.