A Queens teacher has been arrested on aggravated drunk driving charges after police found her “slumped” over the steering wheel of her vehicle with her 3-year-old daughter in the backseat. The incident occurred October 27 in Williston Park a little before 5:00 p.m. when police received a tip from a passerby about possibly intoxicated driver. When the detective followed up on the tip, he found Danielle Kalberer, 34, in the vehicle, a 2012 Toyota Camry, with the motor running and one wheel on the curb on Hillside Avenue. Kalberer’s daughter was in a car seat in the back seat.
Police officers were called to assist the detective and found an empty pint bottle of vodka in the car. Kalberer admitted to the officers that she had consumed about half of the bottle of vodka. Upon her arrest, officers found a single prescription narcotic pill in Kalberer’s possession. Officers conducted a chemical test and determined Kalberer’s blood alcohol content was .25, triple the legal limit.
During her arraignment, Kalberer told the Hempstead District Court that despite recently being rehabilitation, she had used cocaine and heroin. Kalberer’s husband is currently in rehab and is expected to leave the facility soon. Kalberer has worked as a Flushing elementary school teacher for about a decade, however she was on personal leave at the time of the incident, and will not return to work until her case has been resolved, Newsday reports.
DWI Suspect Facing Felony Count and Multiple Drunk Driving Charges
Kalberer has been charged with:
- Two counts Driving While Intoxicated
- One count Aggravated Driving While Intoxicated
- One count Endangering the Welfare of a Child
- One count Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 7th degree
- Aggravated Driving While Intoxicated with a child under 15 (Leandra Law)
An attorney for Kalberer said that several events led up to the driver’s arrest including that Kalberer’s daughter was born with spinal bifida, her father is battling with lung cancer, as well as the possibility of untreated post-partum depression, News 12 reports.
Judge Prevents Felony DWI Mom from Visiting Daughter
District Court Judge Joy Watson set bail at $15,000 and signed a temporary order preventing Kalberer from having visitation with her daughter. Kalberer is expected to post bond and is working with her attorney to get supervised visitation with her daughter. Kalberer’s daughter was released to her maternal grandmother and remains in her custody. Kalberer was arraigned at First District Court in Hempstead on October 28, 2014.
Facing Aggravated DWI charges in Queens?
To speak with a Queens DWI Lawyer about your case, call the Kerben & Associates at 718-575-8433. We have over 34 years of experience handling all types of drunk driving offenses in Queens and throughout New York City and our goal is always to get our clients’ charges reduced or dismissed. Call us today to find out how we can help in your case.
