Mom accused of DUI, leaving young children home alone

WEST LINN, Ore. - Police accuse a West Linn mother of drinking and driving and crashing her car into a tree.

And they say 31-year-old Eva Chapin’s preschool children were left home alone at the time.

At about 1 a.m. Tuesday Craig Newman heard a "huge bang" and saw a station wagon slammed into a tree across the street from his home.

Hours later, Joe Valenti snapped photos of the tree in his driveway and a bent speed-bump warning sign.

"Interesting too is there's shards of glass thrown probably 10 feet, at least, in my driveway – dispersed all over the place like an explosion," he said.

West Linn police say Chapin was heading home from a store and allegedly drunk. When the crash happened, police say she had a 3-year-old and a 4-year-old back home and alone.

"She had quite a bit to say," said Newman. "She was very – first of all, she was trying to get her car off the tree because she had to get home because of the kids."

No one answered at Chapin's listed addressed Tuesday. Police said a grandparent took the children.

"Reports have gone off to DHS. It's up to them to make some determination about long-term placement for the kids," said Sgt. Neil Hennelly, with the West Linn Police Department.

Chapin was released from jail. She's facing child neglect charges in addition to DUI and reckless driving.

According to a criminal background check, she has no prior history.