MITCHELL — A local woman faces multiple misdemeanor charges after her vehicle ended up on its side following a late-night crash.
Kelly A. Dunn, 39, of Mitchell, was arrested on March 9th by the Mitchell Police Department. Investigators allege she was operating a vehicle while heavily intoxicated when the accident occurred.
At approximately 10:24 p.m., Officer Blackwell was dispatched to a report of an accident on Rabbitsville Road. Upon arrival, emergency responders found a vehicle lying on its driver’s side, blocking a narrow portion of the roadway where a drainage creek passes under the road.
The Mitchell Fire Department successfully extricated Dunn, who was the sole occupant of the vehicle.
According to the probable cause affidavit, when Officer Blackwell entered the ambulance to speak with Dunn, she looked at him and said, “Please don’t,” before refusing to speak further. However, Dunn allegedly admitted to EMS personnel that she had consumed three or four shots of whiskey between 8:00 and 9:00 p.m. before driving to get cigarettes.
Officer Blackwell noted several signs of intoxication during the investigation. Dunn reportedly blurted out that she was “drunk” and repeatedly told officers she “knew she made a mistake.” Officers were unable to perform standardized field sobriety tests due to Dunn’s physical instability.
While at the hospital for medical clearance and a chemical blood draw, Dunn’s account of the crash allegedly shifted multiple times. She first claimed she looked down at her phone to read a text message. She later claimed an oncoming vehicle forced her to give room at the narrow section of the road, leading her to exit the pavement before flipping the car.
Officers also spoke with Dunn’s mother at the scene, who arrived to take custody of Dunn’s children, who had reportedly been left home alone while Dunn went to the store.
Dunn was transported to the Lawrence County Jail. Records show that shortly after midnight, nearly two hours after the initial emergency call, a preliminary breath test returned a result of .195% Blood Alcohol Content, more than twice the legal limit of .08%.
Dunn was booked into the Lawrence County Jail on the following preliminary charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated, endangerment, and operating a vehicle while intoxicated.
All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. This article is based on the information provided in the probable cause affidavit and does not represent a final determination of guilt or innocence.
