Lake Elsinore Mother Of Three Arrested For Child Endangerment

A Lake Elsinore mother of three was arrested Sunday for child endangerment after a truck she and her children were riding in flipped over.

Maura Garcia, 37, was arrested for child endangerment early Sunday afternoon after officers from the Lake Elsinore Police Department responded to an injury collision at the intersection of Highway 74 and Gunnerson Street.

According to the police report, Garcia and her three children, ages 5, 3, and 1, were riding in a 1994 Mazda truck that was being towed, using a tow strap, by a 2004 Ford truck. As the two vehicles tried to negotiate a right-hand turn onto Gunnerson from the eastbound 74, the Mazda carrying Garcia and her children flipped over.

Garcia and her children were not wearing safety restraints; the younger children were not in car seats, the police report stated. No one was ejected from the truck.

Garcia hid her children from police and EMT officials to avoid being charged with a crime, but they were located and provided treatment at a residence nearby, according to the report.

The two youngest children were transported to a local hospital for minor injuries; the 5-year-old was released to his father at the scene, the report stated.

UPDATE NOTE: We checked with Riverside County Sheriff's Department spokeswoman Cpl. Courtney Donowho on towing laws. According to Cpl. Donowho, it is illegal to tow with just a strap. Additionally, under all circumstances it is illegal for occupants to be in a vehicle that's being towed.