Washington woman charged with child endangerment in chase
A Washington County woman is facing charges for allegedly allowing her boyfriend to drive her car while intoxicated with the woman’s child inside the vehicle.
Connellsville police said Wendy Kokladas, 39, of Washington, knew Kevin Lee Knox, 39, also of Washington, was intoxicated when he led officers on a three-mile chase on April 5. The chase started after officers tried to stop Knox for running a red light at the intersection of Memorial Boulevard and Route 119 in Connellsville, police said.
The pursuit, which remained at speeds under 50 mph, ended when Knox tried unsuccessfully to pass a second police cruiser involved in the chase and stopped. Both Kokladas and her 7-year-old child were in the car.
According to court paperwork, Knox had a blood-alcohol level of .192%, more than two times the legal limit for driving. Police said Knox also had a smoking device used to ingest crack cocaine and was driving with a suspended license.
Kokladas was charged Friday with endangering the welfare of children, recklessly endangering another person and permitting violation of title.
She will face a preliminary hearing at a later date.
Knox, who was charged in April, is awaiting trial on counts of fleeing or eluding police, driving under the influence, reckless endangerment, endangering the welfare of children and a number of driving citations.