DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – A 20-year-old woman was arrested on child neglect charges after she crashed into the Halifax River in Daytona Beach in an apparent drunken stupor and falsely claimed her children were drowning.
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Angelina Lopresti, of Daytona Beach, was arrested after the crash, which happened early Tuesday near the Halifax Marina, just south of International Speedway Boulevard.
According to the Daytona Beach Police Department, Lopresti left her two sleeping children home alone and got into her car. She crashed into the river and was helped out of the water by a witness, police said.
Lopresti, who later admitted to being "(expletive) drunk," began screaming that her two children were inside the submerged vehicle, according to police. Three officers, a detective and two firefighters jumped into the water to search for the children before it was learned they were home alone, police said.
The children, who were unharmed, were placed in the custody of their grandparents, according to police. The Florida Department of Children and Families will conduct an investigation into Lopresti, police said.
Daytona Beach police said Lopresti's home was trashed and it appeared that a disturbance had occurred at her apartment.
A DUI investigation is also ongoing, and Lopresti may face more charges, police said.
Lopresti was taken to the Volusia County Branch Jail.
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