Investigators: cocaine found in vehicle
By Brianne Betts
Thursday, May 01, 2008 at 9:17 p.m.
Read more: Local, Crime
CICERO -- Onondaga County Sheriff's Department investigators have charged a mother with vehicular manslaughter in the crash that killed her four year old son. 44 year old Charlene Bernet is in jail, accused of running a stop sign and having cocaine in her car. Bernet was driving a jeep on Whiting Road in Cicero on April 5th, when deputies say she drove through a stop sign, and was hit by a pick up truck. Her four year old son, Raymond, died of his injuries two days later. Bernet's 7 year old son survived. Investigators say they found cocaine in Charlene Bernet's jeep. She is charged with first degree vehicular manslaughter, which is a felony, and criminal possession of a controlled substance. That's a misdemeanor. Bernet is also charged with various traffic violations, including not wearing a seat belt, passing a stop sign, and imprudent speed.