
An Alsea woman is accused of letting her 9-year-old daughter drive a car that ended up crashing into another little girl.
The Benton County sheriff said it happened around noon Saturday near Highway 34.
Investigators said Melanie Steed-Hildebrand, 48, was in the passenger seat while her daughter drove a Subaru Forester down their rural driveway.
At some point the daughter panicked and the Subaru veered toward two girls.
The family was having a garage sale at the time.
One girl managed to get out of the way, but the sheriff said an 11-year-old girl suffered leg injuries.
The girls involved in the crash are friends with the family, according to the sheriff.
The girl hurt in the crash was taken to the hospital by a REACH Helicopter. Investigators said the injuries were not considered life-threatening.
Steed-Hildebrand is charged with reckless endangering.
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