After arresting alleged drunk driver on Christmas Eve, sheriff's officials issue warning to others
DODGE COUNTY -- Officials with the Dodge County Sheriff's Office are reminding folks to drive defensively, and watch for impaired drivers. This, after a driver whom officials say was drunk was arrested on Christmas Eve.
It was around 6:30 p.m. on Christmas Eve, Thursday, December 24th when a Dodge County Sheriff's deputy was monitoring traffic on County Highway P, south of State Highway 33. That deputy observed a vehicle headed north at 109 miles-per-hour. A vehicle in front of the speeding vehicle had to pull onto the gravel to get out of the way.
The deputy stopped the vehicle at the intersection of Highway P and Highway 33.
The driver was identified as a 34-year-old Waukesha woman.
According to officials, the deputy could smell a strong odor of intoxicants, and observed the woman to have glassy, blood shot eyes and slurred speech.
Sheriff's officials say the woman refused to identify herself for 30 minutes -- and she believed she was still in Waukesha.
She was arrested for OWI -- first offense.
Sheriff's officials say the woman tried to escape from the back of a squad car, but she was unsuccessful in that attempt.
She was booked on charges of OWI, speeding and resisting/obstructing an officer.
In a statement, Dodge County Sheriff's officials had this to say:
This individual put the lives of all our families at risk and was fortunate that she did not crash or kill someone. The Sheriff’s Office would like to remind everyone that it doesn’t matter what time of day you are on the roads, it is always important to watch out for impaired drivers. Again, drive defensively and always report suspected impaired drivers to law enforcement.
The Dodge County Sheriff’s Office would like to remind the motoring public to be alert on the highways and drive defensively. There are individuals on the highways who choose to drive under the influence of intoxicants and drive recklessly at all times of the day. The Sheriff’s Office of course encourages those individuals who do decide to enjoy an adult beverage to drink responsibly. Call for a Taxi or designate a driver before going out for the night. One driver who chose to drink and drive suffered the consequences of that choice on Christmas Eve.