Plea deal rejected in Walmart parking lot wreck that injured East Huntingdon store employee

A Mt. Pleasant woman charged in a with a injuring a woman stacking carts in a Walmart parking lot last year rejected plea bargain deal that would have required her to spend three days in jail.

Ronalee Bailey, 40, through her defense attorney, told a Westmoreland County judge she would not plead guilty to a lesser charge of reckless endangerment.

Bailey was arrested in connection with an incident Dec. 6, in which police said she was under the influence of drugs when she drove her car into a row of shopping carts that struck a store employee working in the parking lot at the East Huntingdon store. Bailey was charged with having methamphetamine and methadone in her system, according to court records. She was charged three counts of DUI, aggravated assault by vehicle and reckless driving. The worker suffered a broken back and nose, police said.

According to police, Bailey was found after the crash asleep with her head slumped over the steering wheel and an 8-year-old girl sitting with her in the front seat.

Bailey denied she was intoxicated or under the influence of drugs when questioned by police.

Assistant Public Defender Donna McClelland said Bailey would not plead guilty to a lesser charge of reckless endangerment. Assistant District Attorney Christina Gongaware said that deal would have required Bailey to serve just 72 hours behind bars.

McClelland said Bailey wanted to review video of the incident before the case is scheduled for trial.

Common Pleas Court Judge Rita Hathaway ordered Bailey to return to court in August when a trial date could be set.