Mom Uses Daughter, 10, as Designated Driver

By Jason Beahm on March 09, 2011 | Last updated on March 21, 2019

They say that there is a time and a place for everything. If there is a time and place for having your daughter pick you up when you've been out drinking, it's probably after she has her driver's license.

But that didn't stop Audrey Willoughby, 33, from having her 10-year-old pick her up in their Toyota Corolla after a night of drinking and partying. So any guesses how it turned out?

The 10-year-old girl and her 8-year-old brother crashed the car into three vehicles and a house. Mother Audrey Willoughby, of Port St. Lucie, Florida, was charged with child abuse and permitting an unauthorized minor to drive as well as possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana.

Willoughby reportedly told police that her companion, Michael Ray Green III, 39, was giving her daughter a driving lesson. That sounds about right.

Child abuse charges are often brought in such situations when a parent places the child in situations that threaten the health and safety of a child. Those convicted of child abuse also face the prospect of losing custody of their children.

Willoughby has pleaded no contest and is set to be sentenced May 18. She could face up to 18 months in prison, though she is likely to receive far less. The Port St. Lucie, Florida children were taken to their grandfather's after the arrest, TC Palm reports.

Fortunately, no one was seriously injured. The entire episode serves as a rare cautionary tale of what not to do when calling for a ride after drinking.

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