Lillian Adams, 49, of Fort Collins, Colo., was reported in critical condition at St. Vincent Hospital in Santa Fe following a single-vehicle wreck on Interstate 25 north of Glorieta around 7:40 p.m. Tuesday, according to a state Department of Public Safety news release.

Witnesses told police that the woman was driving her 2001 Saturn at a high rate of speed, swerving and nearly hitting a black pickup truck, when she lost control and struck a guardrail, DPS spokesman Peter Olson said in the release.

The woman was thrown from the car and a small child, about 3-4 years old, was stuck in the front seat of the Saturn, the release said.

Bystanders freed the little girl, who was not in a child safety seat, by cutting her seatbelt, and the child was taken by helicopter to University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque, where she was reported in critical condition.

Although police detected a strong odor of alcohol on Adams, they were unable to get her to perform field sobriety tests because of her injuries, the release said.

A blood sample was taken from Adams at St. Vincent Regional Medical Center, where she was taken by ambulance, according to the release.

Adams'  driving history includes five previous DWI arrests, and she will face new charges of driving under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs (sixth offense), child abuse resulting in great bodily harm or death and reckless driving, the release said.

The young girl hasn't been positively identified yet, but she is believed to be related to Adams, Olson said. 

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