A Bronx woman is facing numerous criminal charges after state police say she was driving drunk on the New York State Thruway with four children in her vehicle.
Paulina A. Cepeda-Lema, 30, of the Bronx, was arrested on November 8, 2026, and charged with four counts of felony aggravated DWI with a passenger under 16 (DWI Leandra’s Law) and four counts of misdemeanor endangering the welfare of a child.
At 5:32 a.m., troopers saw a 2012 Chevrolet Equinox going southbound on Interstate 87 in the town of Newburgh violating vehicle and traffic rules.
After a traffic stop, troopers noticed indicators of intoxication in Cepeda-Lema.
Standard field sobriety tests were done, and the results indicated impairment.
The truck carried four children, ranging in age from six to fourteen.
Cepeda-Lema was arrested and sent to State Police Newburgh, where she had a blood alcohol content of 0.10%.
Cepeda-Lema was charged with DWI and endangering the welfare of a child, as well as many vehicle and traffic law offenses.
She was released to a sober third party and is appearing in Newburgh Town Court on December 7th.
The children were turned over to a responsible third party.
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