Young mother accused of leaving 2-year-old in freezing car; walking home drunk

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — A Spokane County sheriff's spokesman says a 22-year-old woman has been arrested, accused of leaving her 2-year-old daughter inside a cold car and walking home after she ran out of gas.

Deputy Mark Gregory said Wednesday that Hailey Helgeson of Spokane Valley was arrested Tuesday night for investigation of DUI and reckless endangerment. Bail was set at $10,000.

Gregory says when the woman arrived home and her husband asked where the child was, she said she couldn't remember where she left the car.

Deputies searched for about a half hour before a family member found the vehicle — and the little girl.

The spokesman says the child could have been in the car as long as two hours. She was examined by medics and then released to her father.