Police: Two Hudson Valley Women Overdose on Heroin With Baby In Hot Car

Two Hudson Valley women are accused of overdosing on heroin with a baby stuck inside a very hot car.

New York State Police from Poughkeepsie charged 38-year-old Tamara E. Ward of Poughkeepsie with aggravated driving while intoxicated under Leandra’s Law, a felony, criminal possession of a controlled substance and endangering the welfare of a child, misdemeanors.

Jennifer A. Lasko, 40, of Pleasant Valley also received a misdemeanor charge for endangering the welfare of a child.

On Wednesday around 2:50 p.m., troopers were dispatched by Dutchess County 911 to check the welfare of two unresponsive females inside of a vehicle at the Garden Apartments, located on Route 44.

911 also told police that there was a child was also inside of the vehicle.

Police arrived on scene and discovered both women, Ward and Lasko, unresponsive and not breathing due to a suspected opioid overdose, according to State Police.

Naloxone was given to both women and the 1-year-old child was immediately removed from the vehicle as he was sweating profusely, police say.

After one dosage of Naloxone, Lasko regained consciousness and started breathing. Ward, the child’s mother, was still unconscious after one dose, officials say.

Pleasant Valley EMS arrived on scene and administered an additional four doses of naloxone to Ward before she regained consciousness.

Ward, Lasko and Ward’s child were all transported to Mid-Hudson Regional Hospital for an evaluation.

An investigation revealed that Ward allegedly drove the vehicle from Poughkeepsie to Pleasant Valley while under the influence of heroin.

The child was turned over to a family member following his discharge from Mid-Hudson Regional Hospital.

Lasko was discharged from the hospital and issued an appearance ticket.
Ward was arraigned in the Town of Pleasant Valley Justice Court and remanded to the Dutchess County Jail in lieu of $25,000 cash bail or $50,000 bond.