DELAND, Fla. (WSVN) — A family was taken on a dangerous drive in Central Florida after, officials said, a mother overdosed on heroin with her three children in the vehicle.
Tiffany Smith was unconscious when first responders found her in her minivan near Daytona Beach, Thursday night.
She was able to communicate a bit with detectives after being revived with Narcan.
“I honestly took a little bit of heroin ’cause my back was hurting,” said Smith.
“Heroin? Is that, is that something you should be taking for your back?” asked the deputy.
“It’s not, but I had no pain pill and my back was hurting, and I’m making a five-hour trip,” said Smith.
Detectives said Smith told them she was driving with her children, ages 12, 7 and 1, to her sister’s house in South Carolina.
She said, before getting on the road, her back was hurting, so she stopped to get some heroin for the pain.
A short while later, Smith was incapacitated.
She pulled over and passed out on the side of the highway.
That’s when Smith’s oldest daughter bravely took charge.
“My mom won’t wake up, and we’re on I-4 in the car,” said Smith’s daughter to the 911 dispatcher.
“OK. Where on I-4 are you at? Where are you at?” asked the dispatcher.
The 12-year-old, though very frightened, made the 911 call and did her best to explain where the minivan was.
“We’re in the grass, and we’re close to a ditch ’cause my mom was hitting her gas, and I put it in, ’cause I don’t know how to put it in park,” said Smith’s daughter.
Rescuers found the family and their two dogs.
Smith faces three counts of child neglect. Her children are now in the custody of their grandmother.
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