Cops: Duo on drugs with young kids crash truck into 3 cars

A Delaware County man and woman, both high on drugs, had an assortment of narcotics when they got into a rental truck with the woman's two daughters and crashed into three parked cars in Upper Darby, police said.

The driver, Sean Rehmann, 24, of Garnet Valley, was unable to stand when a responding officer tried to administer a sobriety test Tuesday, Upper Darby Police Superintendent Michael Chitwood said. The passenger, Laura Popielarski, 34, of Clifton Heights, refused to allow herself or her daughters, 8 months and 4 years old, to be evaluated at a hospital for injuries but was ordered to a hospital by police, Chitwood said.

The baby was treated for cuts and abrasions, but no other injuries were reported, according to authorities.

Rehmann and Popielarski were in a rented Nissan Titan truck with Popielarski's kids when Rehmann, driving with a suspended license, lost control of the vehicle around 5:15 p.m. on the 300 block of Clearbrook Road and it crashed into three parked vehicles, totaling them and the truck, according to police.

"When the captain arrived, the operator said he was looking around for his dog. He couldn't even stand up," Chitwood said. "The female was with the two children. She didn't know what day it was. She couldn't remember anything."

Delaware County Children and Youth Services gave temporary custody of Popielarski's children to friends, Chitwood said. She was charged with drug violations, endangering the welfare of children, and recklessly endangering another person.

Rehmann faces those charges and also was charged with driving under the influence of intoxicants, driving under a suspended license, and public drunkenness, police said.

"Driving while under a controlled substance is horrible enough, but when you put two small children in harm's way, it's unconscionable," Chitwood said.

"I'm shocked they didn't kill somebody. They put an entire community in harm's way because of their drug use."