LAWRENCE CO. – A Louisville, Kentucky, woman was arrested Saturday night following a three-vehicle accident at the intersection of Patton Hill Road and State Road 37.
According to a probable cause affidavit filed by Lawrence County Police Department Sergeant Whitney Daugherty-Anderson, Osula Ann Kirby, 49, faces multiple charges, including operating while intoxicated, causing serious bodily injury.
At approximately 10:15 p.m. on May 10th, Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department dispatch reported an accident with injuries at the intersection. Sergeant Daugherty-Anderson responded to the scene and found a blue Dodge Grand Caravan, a red Chevy Camaro, and a silver Lincoln MKZ stationary on Patton Hill Road. The van was in the front, followed by the Camaro and the Lincoln.
The van driver, Hunter Chambers, stated that he was rear-ended by the red Camaro, which the Lincoln had rear-ended. The driver of the Camaro, Amber Kelly, who was nine months pregnant, corroborated this account, stating that both her vehicle and the van were stopped at the red light when she saw the Lincoln approaching rapidly in her rearview mirror and knew it wouldn’t stop. She reported being rear-ended by the Lincoln, which caused her to strike the van. Kelly reported experiencing some pain and was attended to by EMS on the scene. Kelly sustained injuries to her hips and neck.
Sergeant Daugherty-Anderson then approached the Lincoln driver, 49-year-old Osula Kirby. While speaking with Kirby, who had her window down, Sergeant Daugherty-Anderson detected a strong odor of alcohol on her breath. When asked if she had been drinking, Kirby admitted that she had.
When asked to turn off her vehicle, Kirby put it in reverse, nearly colliding with a parked car behind her before stopping. Sergeant Daugherty-Anderson repeatedly instructed Kirby to put the vehicle in park and turn it off, noting that Kirby exhibited delayed reactions and appeared to have difficulty processing instructions.
When asked to leave the vehicle, Kirby pulled herself out and held onto the door, stating, “I am a veteran.” Sergeant Daugherty-Anderson advised her that she had almost hit another vehicle and had already caused a rear-end collision. Kirby’s balance and gait were described as very poor. EMS and fire personnel evaluated Kirby, and they also indicated that she appeared to be intoxicated.
While officers were gathering information and tending to the injured, Kirby allegedly reached into her vehicle. He retrieved a lighter and a pack of cigarettes after being told she could not smoke. When confronted, Kirby said, “I’m going to jail.” As Sergeant Daugherty-Anderson attempted to secure her arms, Kirby resisted. With the assistance of Bedford Police Officer Zakary Brooking, Kirby was eventually handcuffed.
After being read her Miranda Warning and the OWI Implied Consent Warning, Kirby consented to a chemical test. Due to her apparent level of intoxication, poor balance, slurred speech, difficulty understanding instructions, and resistance, standard field sobriety tests were not conducted. Kirby provided a breath sample at the hospital.
At IU Health Bedford Hospital, where Kirby was taken for a blood draw and medical clearance, Sergeant Daugherty-Anderson attempted a Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN) test. However, Kirby allegedly became agitated and refused to continue, stating she was a veteran and was starting to panic.
Hospital staff drew a blood sample from Kirby and secured it for submission to the Indiana Department of Toxicology. After being medically cleared, Kirby was transported to the Lawrence County Jail on charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated, OWI endangerment, resisting law enforcement, and OWI causing serious bodily injury.
All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. This article is based on a probable cause affidavit, representing the investigating officer’s belief that a crime has been committed.
