A Halfmoon Township couple were charged this week with child endangerment after a vehicle crash in which both were intoxicated while children were in their car, according to State College police.
Deborah L. Ray, 36, and her husband, Lorn M. Ray, 41, were under the influence of alcohol with three children, ages 3, 7 and 10, in the back seat of the car at the time of the crash on Aug. 28, according to an affidavit of probable cause filed on Monday.
Deborah Ray was driving a 2018 Volvo V60 and Lorn Ray was in the passenger seat at about 10 p.m. when she struck another vehicle from behind near the intersection of East Park Avenue and Hospital Drive in College Township, police wrote.
Officers determined that Ray failed to slow down when the vehicle in front of her came to a stop.
Deborah Ray “appeared very disoriented and confused,” had slurred speech and emitted an odor of alcohol, police wrote. When asked to exit the vehicle, she was unsteady on her feet, and was unable to satisfactorily perform field sobriety tests, according to the affidavit.
A preliminary breath test indicated she had a blood alcohol level of .259, and a blood test later showed it was .264, police wrote. The legal limit in Pennsylvania is .08.
Lorn Ray had bloodshot, watery eyes and emitted an odor of alcohol, according to the affidavit.
Both are charged with one felony and two misdemeanor counts of endangering the welfare of children. Deborah Ray is also charged with two misdemeanor counts of DUI and a summary traffic offense.
They were arraigned on Monday by District Judge Casey McClain. Deborah Ray was released on $7,500 unsecured bail and Lorn Ray was released on recognizance.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Oct. 15.
