Woman arrested after running from crash scene, leaving child behind in car, deputies say

CLARKSBURG, W.Va (WDTV/Gray News) — A woman in West Virginia is accused of crashing her vehicle while impaired, running away and leaving a child behind in the car.

Sydni Healy, 31, is charged with child neglect creating a substantial risk of injury or death, according to the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office.

On Sunday, deputies responded to a single-vehicle crash in Clarksburg. Dispatch notified deputies that the driver, later identified as Healy, had run away from the scene.

According to a criminal complaint, Healy ran into the woods, leaving a child behind in the car and “showing no care for their welfare.”

Deputies checked on the child, who was not hurt but was not wearing a seat belt. The child told deputies they did not know how the vehicle crashed because they were looking at a phone.

Deputies noted Healy’s white Chevrolet Malibu had heavy roof damage near the passenger side.

Healy was later found hiding in nearby woods, where deputies administered field sobriety tests and noted signs of impairment.

Healy is being held in the North Central Regional Jail on a $50,000 bond.