Shocking photo shows mum slumped in car holding syringe after heroin overdose as her terrified baby cries in the backseat
Cop who discovered the 25-year-old said US is facing drug problem which is 'growing worse every day'
A YOUNG mum sits slumped over the seat of her car after a heroin overdose - with her ten-month-old baby still in the backseat.
Erika Hurt, 25, was discovered in the car park of a Dollar General Store passed out with a syringe still in her hand.
She was charged with child neglect and possession of drug paraphernalia after she was rushed to hospital.
The Town of Hope Police Department, Indiana, released the image of her slumped at the wheel of her car to try and spread awareness of a growing drug epidemic.
He told : "I'm trying to show people that this just isn't a city problem.
"The heroin epidemic is leaking into small town America and it's getting really bad.
"Not only did this woman overdoes and nearly die, but, had she not passed out from the drug, she would have driven out of the car park and could still have been driving while passed out or under the influence.
"She could have killed another innocent family."
Town Marshal Matthew Talent shared the photo, saying the epidemic was "leaking into small town USA".
Related Stories
The police officer said her baby was crying when they found them both in the car.
They had been alerted to her state by a shocked passer-by who noticed the mum passed out in the driver
Talent added: "The child was fine, he got fussy towards the end when we tried to take him out. He was crying when we arrived."
He went on to say America's drug problem was "getting worse by the day."
The chilling scene is reminiscent of a horrific image showing two parents passed out at the wheel of their car after taking heroin.
A young boy sits in the backseat, seemingly unmoved by his parents' state.
Just one week ago two heroin addicts were pictured unconscious at the wheel of their car.
Taylor Swartzlander, 24, and Haley Kirkendall, 22, passed out in their car after an alleged overdose, drifting through traffic before miraculously coming to a standstill safely.
Another heartbreaking video saw a four-year-old beg her parents to "get up" as they lay comatose after taking the Class-A drug.
Experts estimate that heroin-related deaths have increased three-fold in the US in just seven years.
More than 10,000 Americans died after taking the opiate in 2014 compared with 3,000 in 2007.
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368