APOPKA, FL – A 33-year-old mother was arrested Tuesday evening on DUI and child neglect charges after her 6-year-old daughter was forced to flag down passing motorists for help on the shoulder of State Road 414.
Child Flags Down Passersby for Unconscious Mother
According to the Apopka Police Department, a concerned driver pulled over after spotting a young girl waving her arms on the side of the highway. The witness discovered the child was attempting to get medical aid for her mother, identified as Joelle Service, who was found unconscious and slumped over the wheel inside a family SUV.
First responders arrived at the scene to find Service disoriented, slurred in speech, with glassy and bloodshot eyes. Fire department personnel noted she admitted to drinking earlier in the day but believed she was capable of driving.
6-Year-Old Explains Terrifying Drive Home
The young child provided crucial details to responding officers, explaining that it was her mother’s birthday and they had spent the afternoon at Wolf Branch Brewing in Mount Dora.
According to the child’s statement:
- Her mother drank several glasses of wine at the establishment.
- The drive home became terrifying as the SUV repeatedly swerved.
- The vehicle struck multiple objects along the roadway before pulling over when Service became physically ill.
Visible Vehicle Damage and Legal Charges
Police noted fresh, significant bodywork damage along both passenger-side doors of the SUV, which Service was unable to explain to investigators.
Service has been booked and faces serious charges, including DUI with a child in the vehicle and child neglect without great bodily harm. The Florida Department of Children and Families has been notified regarding the incident, and the child was safely placed.
