Oklahoma Highway Patrol troopers Keith Teel, left, and Brian Bagwell arrest  Taloa Foster on suspicion of DUI after she allegedly fell out of a pickup while driving down the highway and one of her 3-year-old twin boys drove the vehicle until it crashed onto a curb. 

ADA, Okla. — An Oklahoma woman who fell from a pickup while driving under the influence of alcohol leaving her 3-year-old son to take the wheel and attempt to drive has received probation.

The incident, which garnered international press coverage, occurred at 8:45 a.m. Oct. 21 in Ada. Witnesses told authorities Taloa Foster was driving the pickup east when she fell out of the vehicle. One of Foster’s two 3-year-old twin boys who were in the truck took the wheel and drove the vehicle about three blocks. The boy ran off the road to the right, then crossed all lanes of traffic before crashing onto a curb, which stopped the vehicle.

Witnesses said Foster was walking east on the road toward the pickup when it crashed. She was not injured. Neither boy was injured, but emergency personnel and bystanders comforted the children while law enforcement performed a sobriety test on Foster.

OHP Trooper Keith Teel said Foster claimed one of the boys had gotten out of his car seat, and she was trying to keep him in the pickup when she fell out.

Foster was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol and child endangerment. Troopers discovered a nearly empty liquor bottle on the floorboard of the pickup. She was charged Oct. 22 with felony child endangerment by driving under the influence.

Foster entered into a plea deal Nov. 20 and pleaded no contest. She was sentenced to seven years deferred, which means she will be on probation during that time.

Assistant District Attorney John Hubbard said Foster received a deferred sentence due to the fact that she had no prior felonious criminal history.

Foster was also ordered to undergo substance abuse counseling as part of the deal. If she violates the terms of her probation, Foster could receive up to four years in prison, the maximum sentence for the crime. Due to confidentiality laws, the custody arrangements for her children were not available to the press.

Mitchell writes for The Ada (Oklahoma) News