A West Sacramento woman has been convicted of driving under the influence of Ambien, a prescription sedative, the Yolo County District Attorney’s Office announced Monday.
Tanya Jones-Watkins, 54, was found guilty of the DUI charge Thursday following a jury trial in Yolo Superior Court. Visiting Judge Stephen Mock sentenced her the following day to two days in jail, three years’ probation, a $3,179 fine and a DUI education class.
According to prosecutors, Jones-Watkins took an Ambien pill upon leaving a North Sacramento restaurant in May 2015 so that she would be tired by the time she reached her West Sacramento home. But the medication took effect as she drove, causing Jones-Watkins to fall asleep and her vehicle to run off the road, crash and roll.
“This is another example of how driving on prescription drugs is no less dangerous than driving while under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs,” District Attorney Jeff Reisig said in a news release. “We are fortunate nobody was seriously injured or killed, and all drivers was must be aware about the dangers of driving while under the influence of prescription drugs.”