A Florida woman was arrested on Mother’s Day after causing a car crash while driving under the influence, with her two children inside the vehicle. Iris Damaris Ruiz, 33, faces multiple charges, including DUI, child abuse, and DUI with property damage or injuries, after the fiery incident in Miami on Sunday.
The Crash and Rescue Efforts
According to an arrest affidavit reviewed by Law & Crime, a Florida Highway Patrol trooper arrived at the crash scene to find a gray Nissan with significant front-end damage and smoke coming from the vehicle. A 12-year-old boy, waving his arms for help, was carrying a 2-year-old girl. A male witness was attempting to help Ruiz out of the driver’s seat, but she was reportedly refusing to exit the car.
The trooper noted the boy appeared to have only minor injuries, but Ruiz was reluctant to leave the vehicle. After informing her that a fire had started in the car’s engine, she finally got out. The trooper was able to extinguish the fire with a fire extinguisher before checking on the family for injuries.
Although no major injuries were reported, the trooper noticed a strong smell of alcohol on Ruiz and observed that her speech was slurred, and her eyes were bloodshot and watery. Ruiz allegedly didn’t remember how the crash happened and struggled to retrieve her driver’s license from her wallet.
Field Sobriety Test and Arrest
When asked to perform a field sobriety test, Ruiz showed signs of intoxication, including difficulty counting and repeating numbers. A breath test revealed her blood alcohol content (BAC) was 0.216, more than twice the legal limit. Ruiz was arrested and booked into the Turner Guilford Correctional Center.
Legal Proceedings and Children’s Custody
Following the arrest, Ruiz’s children were placed into the custody of their grandmother. Ruiz appeared in court on May 8 for a bond hearing. Judge Mindy Glazer ordered that Ruiz have no contact with her children. When Ruiz’s public defender requested supervised visits, Judge Glazer firmly denied the request, emphasizing that Ruiz needed to get clean before regaining any parental rights.
Judge Glazer expressed her dismay, stating, “Her Mother’s Day was spent driving drunk with two children in the car, which she could have killed.”
Upcoming Court Date
Ruiz’s next court date is scheduled for July 9, 2026. In the meantime, she will be monitored by Pretrial Services while awaiting trial for her charges.
