ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. – A mother is facing multiple charges following a multi-vehicle accident on Interstate 270 that left her two children critically injured.

Police said the woman caused the crash, left the scene, and may have been under the influence.

Court documents reveal that Courtney Brown, 27, was halted on eastbound I-270, just west of Missouri Route 367, when a vehicle behind her attempted to swerve but ended up hitting Brown’s car. A subsequent driver collided with Brown, propelling her vehicle into a third car, further intensifying the crash.

Authorities report that Brown exited the car and began walking westbound. Her two children, aged 3 and 8, were discovered in the front seat without seatbelts, both unconscious.

Officers located Brown a mile away and demanded she return to the scene. She was then arrested.

Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers noticed Brown had watery, bloodshot eyes, a relaxed demeanor, slow movements, and confused speech. Upon testing at the hospital, Brown was found to have cannabis and amphetamines in her system.

Brown’s children were transported to the hospital for serious injuries, and are currently intubated, according to records.

All three victim drivers had damage worth over $1,000 to their vehicles.

“Courtney Brown was charged [Monday] with seven felonies and one misdemeanor: two counts of DWI, resulting in serious physical injury; two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, resulting in serious physical injury; three felony counts of leaving the scene of an accident, and one misdemeanor count of operating a motor vehicle without a valid license fee,” St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Melissa Price Smith said.

Brown is currently being held under a $100,000 bond. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 2.

Brown’s neighbors are stunned and hope this serves as a wake up call.

“You never know what a person is going through mentally to leave their kids,” James Brown said. “So, I just pray for the situation, because you just never know what they are going through in life to make them do that.”