A local mother plead guilty following a drug induced car crash that killed her young son.

Monday, 27-year-old Nicole Smith, 27, of Bloomingburg pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicular homicide in connection with the death of her two-year-old son, who was killed when the car that Smith was driving hit a tree.

In Orange County Court, Smith admitted on March 19 she was driving recklessly and under the influence of Methadone and Xanax with her 2-year-old son in the car. The child’s car seat was also not properly belted.

Smith attempted to pass another vehicle by crossing the double yellow line on Route 17K in Montgomery. As she was attempting to pass, her car hit the other vehicle which caused Smith’s car to go off the roadway, hit an embankment, and drive into a tree.

Because Smith’s son was not properly secured in his car seat, the crashed caused him to be thrown from the car and killed.

“Once again an offender’s decision to drive while under the influence of powerful drugs has had tragic consequences,” stated District Attorney David M Hoovler. “I can think of no more tragic circumstance than a mother killing her own son. The occupants of the other vehicle narrowly avoided a collision that could have caused further deaths or serious physical injuries. Fatalities caused by those who drive recklessly while under the influence of drugs or alcohol are as tragic as they are preventable.”

The District Attorney’s Office will recommend a sentence of five to fifteen years in state prison when Smith is sentenced on Oct. 3.

More From WPDH-WPDA