MAIRE O’NEILL

Sarah Manzanares, 42 of Los Alamos faces five charges in Los Alamos Magistrate Court after allegedly taking off on foot Oct. 13 from the scene of an accident on Diamond Drive allegedly leaving several children in her vehicle.

Los Alamos Police Cpl. Amos Smith responded to the scene of the accident where his report indicates that a vehicle driven by Manzanares struck another vehicle, then turned back into traffic and exited Diamond at an access road where the vehicle stuck a partially-closed gate and stopped.

Court documents filed by Smith indicate that Manzanares left the scene on foot. On the passenger side floorboard, Smith’s report says he found a glass with no lid that was half-full of “what appeared to be wine”. On the back floorboard, Smith said he found a gallon of chainsaw gasoline and a container “containing marijuana wax”.

Smith requested an arrest warrant from Judge Pat Casados and Court records indicate Manzanares was arrested Oct. 15 and charged with abandonment of a child, open container, possession of a controlled substance, no registration and no insurance.

Manzanares was read her rights by Judge Casados and released on her own recognizance pending trial with conditions of release that include house arrest except for cleaning houses and doctor, court or attorney appointments.

No date has been set for her next Court appearance.