Woman accused of driving drunk with kids

After allegedly driving drunk with three kids in tow and crashing into a car while backed up during another I-10 wreck, a 35-year-old Silsbee woman was indicted Nov. 3 for driving while intoxicated with a child passenger.

Monday, Sept. 20, Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) troopers responded to a secondary crash that occurred on I-10 around mile marker 840, around a tenth of a mile behind a fatality crash. According to a probable cause affidavit, troopers found Heather Peppas Melancon in the driver’s seat of a 2021 Mazda SUV immediately after the crash. Along with her were three children ages 5 through 14 in the backseat. Upon interviewing the suspect, Melancon admitted to striking the vehicle in front of her before coming to a stop in the backed-up traffic.

Troopers noted Melancon’s speech was slurred, she was emitting an alcoholic aroma from her breath and her pupils were dilated. They then escorted her to the front of their patrol vehicle, where she had “a hard time balancing.” 

Melancon admitted to drinking alcohol in Houston before driving home to Silsbee and that she took prescribed Valium. Additionally, Melancon “was observed as being very talkative when no questions were being asked,” the probable cause affidavit reads.  

Upon searching Melancon’s purse, officers found a pill bottle containing two different medications. The pills were identified as Acetaminophen and Hydrocodone. Melancon was arrested for three counts of driving while intoxicated with a child passenger under 16 and possession of a controlled substance.