(Memphis) A North Memphis mother is behind bars after crashing her car with her two children inside.
Police say Christina Gardner was not only drinking, but neither child was in a car seat.
The intersection at St. Elmo and Rangeline is where Memphis police say the 23-year-old mother put her children’s lives in danger after crashing while drinking and driving.
“Oh Jesus,” said Sheila Rutherford, a neighbor. “Why would she be drinking? Oh Lord.”
She is surprised by the allegations against her neighbor, but to make matters worse, investigators say her 4- and 6-year-old boys were not in child safety seats. Luckily, the children weren’t hurt.
“I don`t think she would ever take her kids out without their car seats,” said Rutherford. “That`s dangerous”
Gardner told police she was texting when she lost control of her car. Officers say she smelled of alcohol and was wobbly after the 2 a.m. crash.
“Two o`clock?” asked Rutherford. “That means the babies should be in their bed. I`m so sorry to hear.”
One of Gardner’s boys answered the door when News Channel 3 went by her house Wednesday afternoon. He said his mother wasn’t there and was still in jail. An uncle came to the door, but didn’t want to talk.
“She is a good mother,” said Rutherford, “but I think she is young and to start having children, they`re not mature. They`re children themselves.”
Last year Gardner was charged with Aggravated Assault. She is in jail on a $5,000 bond.
