MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A Memphis mother has been charged for driving under the influence with her two young children inside the car in East Memphis Tuesday, police say.
On Tuesday afternoon, police said they noticed driver Tara Hunter stopped at the intersection of Cherry and Quince Road blocking traffic. When approaching the woman, officers said they smelled a strong odor of alcohol coming from the vehicle.
Officers asked Hunter to pull over but she drove away instead, almost striking the officer’s parked vehicle, police say. The woman almost hit another vehicle head-on as she was fleeing.
Police say Hunter eventually stopped again in the middle of Park Avenue but sped off again. Officers were able to get her to stop on South Goodlett Street shortly after.
According to police, Hunter had slurred speech and red eyes when officers came in contact with her.
Police say two bottles of wine were located inside her vehicle and one of the bottles was half empty.
Hunter’s 4 and 6-year old children were inside the vehicle during the incident.
Police charged Hunter with two counts of DUI – child endangerment and reckless driving.
Hunter is an instructor at the University of Memphis and a registered nurse at Methodist Germantown. WREG asked both organizations if her employment status has changed but we have not heard back.