One Arrested, Four Injured in Martin County Crash

(SHOALS) – One woman was arrested, four people were injured in a head-on collision on State Road 450 Wednesday afternoon.


The accident was reported at approximately 4:25, a half a mile south of Hickory Ridge Church.
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According to a Martin County Sheriff’s report, 34-year-old Valarie McCarthy, of Shoals was traveling south on State Road 450 in a 2001 Chevy Silverado when she drove left of the center line. Her vehicle struck an oncoming 2016 Ford-150, driven by 48-year-old Kevin Scott Hert Sr., of Shoals.
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Upon impact, McCarthy’s vehicle stopped in the northbound lane, and Hert vehicle came to rest on the east side of the highway.
Three passengers in Hert’s vehicle, including two minors, where transported to Daviess Community Hospital by Martin County Ambulance for treatment of
injuries sustained in the accident.
A fourth passenger in Hert’s vehicle was transported by a family member, at the scene.
At the time of the crash, McCarthy had two minor children with her. One suffered an abrasion to her neck in the crash.
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A Martin County deputy transported Valarie McCarthy to the Daviess Community Hospital, where she was administered a chemical test to check for the presence of an illegal substance and alcohol. Test results showed McCarty had PCP, methamphetamine, opiates, amphetamines, benzodiazepines, and oxycodone in her blood.
Police arrested McCarthy on charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated, seven counts of OWI endangerment, OWI with a prior conviction, two counts of OWI with a minor passenger, four counts of OWI causing serious bodily injury, four counts of OWI causing serious bodily injury with a prior conviction, two counts of neglect of a dependent, possession of a controlled substance PCP, possession of meth, possession of a controlled substance opiates, possession of a controlled substance amphetamines, possession of a controlled substance benzodiazepines, possession of a narcotic drug oxycodone.
Assisting at the scene was Shoals Fire Department, IU Health Hospital ambulance, and an AMR ambulance and Martin County ambulance.

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