Dr. Sarah Mullican under influence of controlled substances in crash that killed daughter, records state
A Mountain Brook doctor charged in the traffic crash death of her 10-year-old daughter while she was allegedly fleeing police was under the influence of controlled substances, according to newly released court documents.
Dr. Sarah Kathleen Cumbest Mullican, a 44-year-old anesthesiologist, is charged with reckless manslaughter and felony attempting to elude in the July 22 death of daughter Annabelle Mullican.
Mullican was booked into the Jefferson County Jail at 6:50 a.m. Friday, Sept. 15, and was released at 7:56 a.m. after posting $45,000 bond.
Here is full coverage of the case[1]
According to an affidavit made public Friday, Mullican did “recklessly cause the death of (Annabelle) by operating a motor vehicle…in excess of posted speed limits, and/or by attempting to elude a law enforcement officer, and/or while under the influence of controlled substances, thereby causing the death of (Annabelle) who was a passenger in the vehicle.”
The affidavit does not state what substances police say Mullican was under the influence of at the time.
She is represented by attorneys Tommy Spina, Brett Bloomston and Ben Preston.
“Without the benefit of having received the toxicology report supporting these allegations, at this time I am without sufficient information to explain further,’’ Spina told AL.com.
“I do note that based on the affidavit presented to the magistrate that issued the warrant, there appears to be no evidence of intoxication from the use of alcohol,” Spina said.
“None of this gives consolation to the simple fact that a mother was involved in an accident that caused the death of her and her husband’s child, someone’s sister, someone’s grandchild, someone’s classmate, someone’s good friend, someone’s student and so on and so on,’’ he said.
“Let us all keep the memory of Annabelle in the forefront of our minds,’’ Spina said, “and the tragedy of a life taken away from this earth way too soon.”
The crash happened about 5:30 p.m. that Saturday on Cherokee Road in Mountain Brook.
According to a police report, an officer was parked in the driveway of a residence on Old Leeds Road when he saw a white Toyota Highlander coming towards him traveling from Crosshill Road on Old Leeds Road at a high rate of speed.
The officer clocked Mullican with his radar driving 47 mph in a 30- mph zone.
A juvenile girl was killed and two other people injured Saturday, July 22, 2023, in a single-vehicle crash on Cherokee Road in Mountain Brook. (Carol Robinson)
The officer followed the SUV and saw it swerve out of its lane several times, the report states.
It then turned left onto Cherokee Road, nearly striking a vehicle that it turned in front of, the report states.
The officer then activated his emergency equipment and attempted to conduct a traffic stop.
The officer saw the driver throw a cup out the window along with another unidentified object in the 3500 block of Cherokee Road, police have said.
“The vehicle appeared to accelerate after (the officer) turned his lights and siren on,’’ the report states.
The SUV then “negotiated” the curve as the roadway curved to the right. As the roadway curved back to the left, the vehicle ran off the right side of the roadway.
It then struck several trees and overturned before coming to a stop in the ditch on the right side of the road.
The crash was recorded on the officer’s dash cam.
It showed that when the SUV ran off the right side of the road, the passenger’s side of the vehicle struck a tree. The vehicle began spinning before it struck another tree on the passenger’s side.
The vehicle then spun around and overturned as it struck another tree while sliding further down the ditch, according to the report.
The SUV then hit a fourth tree with its front bumper before coming to a stop while it was still overturned.
Mullican had several abrasions on her arms and legs. She was treated by Mountain Brook Fire on the scene and released.
Callie Mullican, 8, also sustained abrasions on her arms and legs. Police believe she was seated in the passenger’s side backseat, with her seatbelt locked in place, records state.
She was taken to Children’s of Alabama.
Annabelle was seated in the driver’s side back seat. Her seat belt was not locked in place “indicating that she was not wearing her seatbelt,’’ according to the report.
“Annabelle had a major head injury and was unresponsive at the scene,’’ the officer wrote.
She was taken to Children’s of Alabama where she was pronounced dead at 6:20 p.m. The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office told police Annabelle’s fatal injuries included a skull fracture.
The report says Dr. Mullican was taken by police to Children’s of Alabama.
A search warrant for Dr. Mullican’s blood and saliva was later carried out at Brookwood Baptist Medical Center.
Dr. Mullican was admitted to Brookwood hospital for a psychiatric evaluation and issued a traffic citation by police for reckless driving.
The results of the toxicology report have not yet been released publicly.
Mullican’s first court appearance is set for Oct. 6.
References
- ^ Here is full coverage of the case (www.al.com)