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Police: Woman overdosed on heroin while kids were in car

UNIONTOWN, Pa. — Police have filed child endangerment charges against a Uniontown woman accused of overdosing on heroin in a shopping center parking lot while her children were in the car.

Authorities said the original 911 call came in for a female in cardiac arrest, but when emergency crews arrived and pulled the woman from the car, police said a bloody syringe fell out of her arm.

“She wasn't breathing. Her face was blue. I pulled her out of the car in hopes to start CPR and I noticed a needle had fallen out of her arm,” said Lt. Tom Kolencik.

Kolencik said he put her in an ambulance and then went to console her children.

“There was a 2-year-old and a 4-year-old in the car seat in the back and surprisingly calm. At one point the 4-year-old asked if her mother was breathing yet,” he said.

“I just think it’s very sad that people don't care about their kids, let alone their own life,” said Danielle Hanan.

The Children’s Bureau was called while investigators searched the car, finding another syringe.

The woman, Clara Bass, is charged with two counts of endangering the welfare of a child and possession of drug paraphernalia.

“Some people can’t even have kids, and then here's this mother who, by the grace of God, can have kids and she doesn't even respect that,” said Hanan.