A woman Pennsylvania police say they found unresponsive behind the wheel of her car is facing serious charges. The 46-year-old has been charged with drunk driving by regional police in Central Bucks. So far, no court date has been announced in connection with her case, though she is likely consulting with criminal defense counsel in preparation for upcoming legal proceedings.
According to police on the scene, they were called to investigate a vehicle that had left the road and come to rest on the lawn of a Wells Fargo Bank branch on May 21. Officers say they found the vehicle locked with the engine idling, and the driver unresponsive behind the wheel. Officers entered the vehicle as medical assistance arrived, and the woman then regained consciousness.
The accused was taken to a local hospital for medical observation as well as a legal blood draw. While the results of that blood test have not been made public, police chose to file the DUI charge after receiving them. This will be the woman’s third time appearing in court for a DUI charge, after two incidents in Aug. and Nov. 2017.
Of course, Pennsylvania prosecutors cannot use the accused woman’s prior drunk driving charges as support or evidence in this case. However, the woman’s criminal defense team may choose to take this pattern of behavior into consideration. As alcoholism is widely categorized as a disease, it may be possible to present a defense that includes a proposed plea bargain based upon the woman agreeing to submit to court-ordered rehabilitation.
Source: Doylestown, PA Patch, “Driver Found Unresponsive In Car On Doylestown Lawn Was DUI: Cops“, Kara Seymour, May 24, 2018
