A Washington state mother is accused of deliberately crashing her SUV into a concrete barrier on Interstate 5 near Seattle and then attempting to stab her two daughters. Janieka Ellington, 35, faces four counts of attempted murder, two counts of vehicular assault, and felony harassment.
Prosecutors allege Ellington drove her vehicle into a barrier on Monday morning, veered across lanes, struck a semi-truck, and then hit the barrier again, causing the SUV to roll. Three bystanders intervened to help.
According to a probable cause affidavit, Ellington then pulled out a knife and pursued her 15-year-old daughter, yelling that she was going to kill her. The bystanders disarmed Ellington and held her until state troopers arrived.
The 10-year-old daughter told authorities that her mother believed they were being followed and stated they were all going to die before the crash. The 15-year-old recalled her mother drinking the night before and abruptly waking them to leave their uncle's home. She stated her mother drove erratically and claimed no one was following them, believing Ellington was delusional.
Authorities suspect Ellington was under the influence of alcohol and experiencing suicidal thoughts. She allegedly smelled of alcohol and admitted to drinking whiskey the previous night.
Both daughters were hospitalized. The 15-year-old sustained a broken ankle, while the 10-year-old suffered multiple broken bones, a spinal injury, and stab wounds. They are expected to recover. The driver of the semi-truck was uninjured.
Ellington was taken to a hospital for evaluation and is being held without bail pending a mental health evaluation. She is due in court on October 20.