Couple charged after possible ODs in car with children

A couple was charged with child endangerment in Lawrence County after police found the husband passed out behind the wheel of a car and their two children in the back seat.

New Castle police found Jason Lanham, 35, of Ellwood City and Lisa Lanham, 31, of West Pittsburgh in a parking lot on June 27 with their car pulled halfway into the lot on Friendship Street, according to a criminal complaint.

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Jason Lanham was slumped in the driver’s seat and Lisa Lanham was by a rear passenger door, according  to the complaint. Firefighters pulled the husband from the car and began trying to revive him while a police officer moved the children from the car.

Lisa Lanham could not focus or speak without slurring, according to the complaint, and a medic determined she was under the influence and needed medical attention for a possible overdose. The couple was taken to a hospital and revived.

The Children and Youth Services office was contacted to care for the children, according to the complaint. While waiting for a caseworker to arrive, the children told the officer they had come to New Castle to buy drugs and that they watch their parents do drugs.

They said Jason Lanham pulled the car over because their mother was yelling at him for driving poorly and then he passed out, according to the complaint.

Jason Lanham was also charged with driving under the influence and driving on a suspended license.

Cox Media Group