In re B.L.

BACKGROUND

After consuming at a party what she described as “some drinks throughout the

day,” Mother then drove towards a curve in the road at speeds of 65 to 70 miles an hour,

as estimated by a nearby motorist. She made no apparent effort to slow down or navigate

the turn in the dark. Mother drove off the roadway and struck a utility pole. She had just

passed the motorist in the right lane on a two-lane city street as it became one lane. The

motorist turned around and came back to the scene to find Mother attempting “to put the

baby,” then 10-month-old Minor, “back into the car seat” inside her vehicle.

Mother told the motorist not to summon help, directing him “not to call the

police.” Her stated reason was that “she did not want her child to be taken away.” While

1 All further statutory references are to the Welfare and Institutions Code unless otherwise indicated.

2 the motorist was on the call, Mother requested several times that he terminate it and,

when he did not, she requested the phone to speak with the emergency services

dispatcher. The motorist gave Mother the phone and she disconnected the call. The

dispatcher called back.

An officer responded to the…