A Doon woman has been arrested on felony child endangerment and OWI charges following a two-vehicle crash west of Larchwood that injured four people on Halloween night.
According to the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office, the crash happened around 9:15 p.m. on October 31 at the intersection of Highway 9 and Beech Avenue, about two miles south of Grand Falls Casino. Deputies say 36-year-old Kristina Espinoza was driving a 2010 Lincoln eastbound on Beech Avenue when she failed to stop at a stop sign and was struck broadside by a southbound GMC Yukon driven by 32-year-old Quyntin Maassen of Larchwood.
Authorities say Espinoza suffered facial and other injuries and showed signs of being under the influence of alcohol and marijuana. Court documents later stated that she admitted to drinking and smoking before the crash and tested over the legal limit on a preliminary breath test.
Two juvenile passengers in Espinoza’s vehicle were injured, as was 30-year-old Rachel Maassen, who was 36 weeks pregnant at the time. Espinoza and one child were transported to Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls; the second child and Maassen were taken to Avera McKennan Hospital. Both vehicles were declared total losses.
Following further investigation, Espinoza was arrested last week on a warrant and charged with two counts of child endangerment resulting in bodily injury, both Class D felonies punishable by up to five years in prison each. She also faces a misdemeanor OWI charge.
No court dates have been set. Espinoza was booked into the Lyon County Jail in Rock Rapids and later released after posting an $11,000 bond.
Here is the link to our original story.
This story is courtesy of fellow Community First Broadcasting station KIWA Radio in Sheldon.
