A 46-year-old woman from Amherst was charged with DWI, and faces additional charges, after smashing her SUV into the rear of a 2011 Chrysler minivan that was stopped at a red light Saturday evening.
Inside the minivan was a man, two women and three children ages 3, 6 and 9. All suffered varying degrees of non-life threatening injuries and were transported to the hospital.
The incident began in Orchard Park where officers were called to a Lake Avenue address for a report of a domestic situation. While en route to the scene, it was reported that one of the participants, Lori Mammana, left at a high rate of speed in her vehicle eastbound on Lake Avenue. Mammana's vehicle struck the minivan shortly thereafter at the intersection of Southwestern Boulevard and Lake Avenue.
Police say Mammana, who was taken to ECMC with unknown injuries, displayed obvious signs of intoxication and submitted to a blood test to determine the alcohol and/or drug content of her blood.
The investigation into the domestic incident and the car crash are ongoing and more charges are expected to be filed.
Both vehicles suffered extensive damage and air bags in both vehicles did deploy.
