Police: Mom high on heroin before Berks Co. crash; 3 kids in car

MOUNT PENN, Pa. (WPVI) -- Police say a Berks County woman used heroin before crashing her car, while three children were in the back seat.

Deena Piccarreta is facing a number of charges including DUI, reckless driving and endangering the welfare of children.

The crash happened on Aug. 26 in the 2700 block of Perkiomen Avenue in Mount Penn.

The children were not hurt.

WFMZ-TV reports that, according to police, Piccarreta had to be administered the overdose-reversing drug naloxone twice.

According to an affidavit released Friday, an officer on the scene said he found a silver spoon, a hypodermic needle and several white bags of suspected heroin in the car's center console.

The officer said Piccarreta, who was driving with a suspended license, later told him that she was on her way home to Earl Township after buying heroin from a dealer in Reading and "shot several bags" prior to leaving.

Tests also revealed Piccarreta had both cocaine and oxycodone in her system at the time of the crash, according to the court documents.

Piccarreta is being held on $75,000 bail.

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Information from WFMZ-TV