Woman arrested after DUI chase with 4 children in car, Twiggs County deputies say
TWIGGS COUNTY, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – A woman was arrested for driving under the influence and leading deputies on a high-speed chase with four unrestrained children in the car, according to the
Twiggs County Sheriff’s Office
.
The incident happened at 6:39 p.m. on June 8. According to a news release, members of the Twiggs County Sheriff’s Office Crime Suppression Unit (CSU) were conducting high-visibility enforcement on I-16 when they observed the driver of a 2018 Nissan Altima not wearing a seat belt and committing other equipment violations.
A deputy attempted a traffic stop. The driver merged onto the right shoulder and activated the hazard lights at the 21.5-mile marker, but then accelerated to speeds over 90 mph in a 70 mph zone and re-entered the interstate.
The driver fled eastbound on I-16, reaching speeds of up to 120 mph. A CSU deputy was able to direct the Nissan onto an exit ramp, where they performed a Precision Immobilization Technique (PIT), causing the vehicle to spin into a ditch. The driver attempted to drive out of the ditch but was blocked by other CSU members.
The driver, identified as Christian Briana Jackson-Swinney, was taken into custody. A male passenger was detained.
During a search of the vehicle, deputies found a burnt marijuana blunt near the center console and two open alcoholic beverages—Clubtails Watermelon Margarita and Smirnoff Blue Raspberry. The male passenger admitted ownership of the Clubtails drink and was cited and released.
Jackson-Swinney consented to a field sobriety test, which indicated she was over the legal limit. She was arrested for DUI and transported to the Twiggs County Jail on multiple charges.
Deputies discovered four minors in the back seat. The youngest child, age 7, was sitting unrestrained on the floorboard, while the others—ages 9, 11, and 12—were wearing seat belts. There were no reported injuries. All minors were examined and cleared by EMTs and Twiggs County Fire & Rescue.
Jackson-Swinney faces multiple charges, including DUI, child endangerment (four counts), possession of marijuana, fleeing and eluding, reckless driving, speeding, failure to yield to an emergency vehicle, window tint violation, open container, seat belt violation, child restraint violation, and driving with a suspended license.
In a statement, the Twiggs County Sheriff’s Office said:
“Ms. Jackson-Swinney made several BAD DECISIONS, with the first certainly being partaking of drugs and alcohol while driving; especially with 4 minors in the vehicle. If you want to drink, do drugs and drive, PLEASE RETHINK this decision; and if you decide to break the law, please do not involve innocent lives in your thoughtless decisions. If you choose to make these potentially FATAL mistakes, Twiggs County Sheriffs WILL COME FOR YOU and you WILL BE ARRESTED AND TAKEN STRAIGHT TO JAIL. We WILL CHASE you; we WILL PIT you, and YOU WILL go to JAIL!!!”
