Grand Junction Mom Cited For Allowing 9-Year-Old Daughter To Drive
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (CBS4) - A Grand Junction mother is accused of child abuse after allegedly allowing her 9-year-old daughter to drive.
Police said Lori Ann Rogers allowed her child to take the wheel at least twice in the past week with a 10-month-old infant also in the vehicle.
Rogers, 36, is facing multiple charges, including permitting an unauthorized minor to drive, child abuse, reckless endangerment and operating an uninsured vehicle.
Officers said Rogers let her daughter drive while she was in the passenger seat and her 10-month-old child was in a car seat.
According to the Grand Junction Police report, Rogers' daughter was spotted by several witnesses behind the wheel of a gold Lexus on Saturday, swerving and slamming on the brakes and "acting like she did not know what she was doing."
Police found the vehicle stopped at a McDonald's drive thru, with Rogers behind the wheel. A McDonald's employee told police, "Oh, they changed seats."
Officers said Rogers appeared lethargic and that her pupils were restricted. Police believe she may have been under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol and conducted a roadside sobriety test.
Officers said they received a call about a similar incident on Oct. 7 at Gofer Foods in which the girl told the witness she was "learning how to drive" and had hit a light pole. Police said there was damage to the vehicle consistent with hitting a light pole.
Police intend to review surveillance video from Gofer Foods on Oct. 7 and will interview store employees about the alleged incident of the girl driving.
Rogers is scheduled to appear in Mesa County Court on Nov. 21.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: Police Report
