Connie Jo Penland charged with DWI after dumping her car with her three kids in south fork of Catawba River.

From Gaston Gazette

07/28/2014  — A Gastonia woman was charged with DWI early Saturday morning after driving into the South Fork of the Catawba River with her children in the rear seat.

Connie Jo Penland, 26, was driving north on Lowell-Spencer Mountain Road in Gastonia at approximately 12:31 a.m. Saturday when she approached the intersection of Sutton Carpenter Road, State Trooper W.T. Davis said.

Penland failed to stop at the intersection, according to Davis, then drove off the road and straight ahead for approximately 30 yards, and then went down an embankment and partially into the river.

“I’d estimate her speed at 35 to 40 miles per hour,” Davis said. “I don’t believe speed was a factor, but alcohol was.”

Eight to 12 inches of water ran into the car’s passenger compartment, Davis estimated.

Penland’s two children, 6 and 7 years old ….MORE

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