SEFFNER — State Troopers say a Citrus County mother was drunk Tuesday when she crashed into several vehicles on Interstate 4 while her 2-year-old son was inside the car.
The Florida Highway Patrol arrested Brianna Dee Knox, 28, of Beverly Hills, on charges including driving under the influence, child neglect, leaving the scene of a crash and battery on a law enforcement officer.
A Florida Highway Patrol spokesperson said FHP began receiving reports of a reckless driver on westbound I-4 near McIntosh Road around 5 p.m. on Tuesday.
While troopers were on their way to the scene, the vehicle that Brianna Dee Knox was driving crashed into several vehicles one mile east of County Road 579. Her vehicle then became disabled under the CR-579 overpass.
Knox then got out of the vehicle and was acting erratically and disturbed, the FHP said. She then removed a 2-year-old boy from the vehicle and began walking around the shoulder of the road and allowed the boy to wander toward traffic.
Knox is said to have then pulled down her pants and urinated on the shoulder of the road.
The FHP tried to arrest Knox and she became violent and resisted. Both troopers fell to the ground. Knox was eventually arrested, but refused to answer any questions or identify the child.
DCF was notified and a Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office child protection officer was contacted to take custody of the child. Knox was transported to the Hillsborough County Jail.