Muncie, Indiana – Police claim that a woman from Muncie took fentanyl before hitting a boy with her car, and she is now facing charges.
According to court records, the accusations brought against Jaleesa Louise McCowan, 33, on Tuesday stem from an incident on February 14 when she hit a boy, 7, as he was getting off a school bus at Willard and High Street.
The toddler was weeping and claiming to be in agony while being held by his mother, according to the probable cause, after being struck. He was transferred to a nearby hospital for a checkup.
According to a city police officer, the stop arm on the bus and its flashing lights were “functioning” when the youngster crossed Willard Street to go home. The video also showed McCowan’s car past the child’s crossing when it was moving at a “high rate of speed” before hitting the victim.
The court filings also state that McCowan allegedly kept repeating, “I hit a kid,” and that she was unable to provide officers with much additional information about the collision.
On February 14, McCowan was detained; however, he was eventually freed. She had the potent synthetic painkiller fentanyl in her system at the time of the crash, according to blood testing.
She was charged on Tuesday with causing serious bodily harm while driving while under the influence of a controlled narcotic, a Level 5 felony punishable by up to six years in jail.
Additionally, McCowan was charged with Level 6 felony, passing a school bus with an extended arm signal causing bodily harm, which carries a possible 30-month sentence.
On June 12, she will have her first court appearance at Delaware Circuit Court 2.
