BEAUFORT — Several restrictions have been placed on the pre-trial release of an Eastern North Carolina mom who was charged last week with driving while impaired and causing a wreck that critically injured two of her four children.
Tonya Gillikin, 28, of Swansboro made her first appearance in court Monday in Carteret County following the April 3 wreck that occurred on N.C. 24 in Cape Carteret.
During the first appearance the judge added several conditions to her release on bond: Gillikin is not to operate a motor vehicle and is not to travel beyond Carteret, Onslow and surrounding counties, according to the Carteret County Clerk of Court office.
Electronic monitoring was also ordered.
The bond amount of $30,000 remains the same.
Gillikin is accused of driving while impaired and injuring her four children as well as an adult passenger.
Police said she drove left of center, overcorrected and lost control of the van she was driving, causing it to flip several times. Two of her children were critically injured, including one child who was pinned under the van.
Nathan Henninger, 33, and the children, all ages 5 and younger, were injured and transported to Carteret General Hospital. Henninger and Gillikin’s 5-year-old daughter and 3-year-old son were airlifted to Vidant Medical Center in Greenville.
The two children remained in the Greenville hospital this week.
Gillikin did not receive any serious injury.
Gillikin was charged at the scene with driving while impaired and was allowed to go to the hospital to be with her children.
Additional charges, including two counts of felony serious injury by motor vehicle, were served on Gillikin Friday night, at which time she posted bond and was released.
She also has a May 29 court date in Pender County on pending charges of speeding and failing to secure a passenger under the age of 16.
