STAR, Idaho -- A Star woman has been arrested on a felony charge of vehicular manslaughter after a 5-year-old boy died as a result from a crash she was involved in.
Helen Burgess, 42, was taken into custody by Ada County deputies Thursday afternoon on a felony warrant. The Ada County Sheriff's Office says evidence shows that Burgess was under the influence of several different prescription drugs at levels that caused her to be impaired at the time of the crash.
The accident happened in the morning on June 16th at the intersection of Highway 44 and Highway 16. Investigators say Burgess slammed her Ford Explorer into the back of the Dodge Caravan as it was stopped at the red light.
Inside the Caravan was the Strauss family from Star - Linda, 34, her 8-year-old son, 7-year-old daughter, and 5-year-old son, Alvin. The children were taken to Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center, where Alvin later died.
Everyone in the minivan was wearing a seatbelt or in a child safety seat.
Burgess and her 14-year-old female passenger were also taken to the hospital with injuries that were not believed to be life-threatening. They were not wearing seatbelts.
She is also being charged with aggravated DUI for the injuries to the 7-year-old girl.
A judge has ordered Burgess be held in jail on $1 million bond. A preliminary hearing has been set for Aug. 31.
