Accused drunk driver waives hearing

RATHDRUM — A woman accused of causing a head-on crash while driving drunk with a child in the car has waived her right to a preliminary hearing.

Corina R. Larabee, 36, of Rathdrum, is charged with aggravated DUI, a felony, and injury to a child, a felony.

Initially charged with misdemeanor injury to a child, the charge was later elevated.

Deputies with the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office responded around 5:30 p.m. on May 5 to a two-vehicle crash in the area of Meyer Road and Wyoming Avenue.

Larabee was reportedly traveling northbound on Meyer Road with her 13-year-old child in the passenger seat when she crossed the center line and hit another car.

The driver of the other car was identified as 50-year-old Coeur d’Alene resident Michele Mahn.

Rathdrum resident Lee Gibson told The Press he was sitting on his back porch with family when the crash occurred in the street near his home.

“We heard and felt the impact,” he said. “We felt the concussion in the air.”

His brother, John Gibson, said he rushed to check on the people involved in the crash while others called 911.

“The two cars were decimated,” he said.

First responders reportedly had to remove the doors of both vehicles to extract the passengers.

Mahn was transported to Kootenai Health via Life Flight, police said. She reportedly sustained multiple broken bones and severe internal injuries.

Larabee, who was not injured in the crash, reportedly provided breath samples of 0.17 and 0.16 — about twice the legal limit.

She allegedly told police she had a margarita at lunch.

Police arrested Larabee at the scene. She later posted $50,000 bail.

She has no previous criminal history, according to court documents.

Larabee waived her right to a preliminary hearing, which was scheduled for June 18.

In a preliminary hearing, prosecutors must show there is probable cause to believe a defendant committed the alleged offenses before the case goes to trial.

The case will be referred to the district court for further action.

Aggravated DUI is punishable by a maximum 15-year sentence.

Felony injury to a child is punishable by up to 10 years in prison.