Missouri mother accused of allowing 8-year-old son to drive after drinking too much

Police say a Missouri mother too drunk to drive had her 8-year-old son get behind the wheel and take her and his 3-year-old sibling home, according to court documents.

The 28-year-old woman was in custody at the St. Louis City Justice Center on two counts of felony first-degree endangering the welfare of a child, inmate records show. She was released Tuesday on sponsored recognizance, so she'll receive help while her case is pending, according to Missouri court records.

Officers with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department got a call from a security guard who saw the 8-year-old boy driving a car in the wrong direction of traffic around 4 a.m. Monday, KSDK-TV in St. Louis reported.

USA TODAY contacted the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, who said to speak to the Circuit Attorney’s Office. The Circuit Attorney's Office has not responded to USA TODAY's emails or phone calls.

Toddler not in a car seat when police stopped driving 8-year-old, court doc says

Police said the boy was driving because his mother was passed out in the back seat, according to a probable cause statement obtained by USA TODAY.

Arriving officers found a 3-year-old toddler in the back of the vehicle not in a car seat, the probable cause statement said.

Preliminary information determined the woman was drunk and tired, so she allowed her son to drive home, police said, according to KSDK.

Police took the woman to a local hospital to determine whether she was well enough to be taken to jail, the St. Louis-based TV station said.

A detention hearing for the woman is scheduled for May 16, Missouri court records show. It is unclear what will happen to the woman's children. USA TODAY is not naming her to protect her children's identities.

Woman's attorney cites 'exceedingly unusual' circumstances

The woman's attorney, Steven Kratky, said at his client's bond hearing that she not only has two children to take care of but also works as a home health aide and provides care for an elderly homebound grandparent, according to the Riverfront Times.

While authorities alleged substance abuse as a factor in charging the woman, Kratky said he believes mental health and stress are key underlying factors.

The woman is "no danger to the community" and the events leading to her arrest were "exceedingly unusual," he told the court, according to the Times.

USA TODAY has been unable to reach Kratky.