A 46-year-old Traverse City woman is facing a lengthy list of charges after deputies say her black SUV plowed through a traffic sign, struck two vehicles and a gas station post, and ultimately careened across M-72 into a ditch during a chaotic sequence Tuesday afternoon in Acme Township.
Grand Traverse County's central dispatch received multiple calls around 3 p.m. on Oct. 27 reporting a black SUV driving erratically on U.S. 31, according to the Grand Traverse Sheriff's Office, as reported by upnorthlive.com. The SUV struck a traffic sign near Five Mile Road, and the impact sent the sign smashing through the vehicle's windshield, the station reported.
From there, the driver turned from U.S. 31 onto M-72 and pulled into Turtle Creek Market, according to The Ticker. Witnesses at the market tried to get the driver to stop, per the outlet's reporting, but the SUV collided with at least two other vehicles in the parking lot and struck a protective post near the gas pumps before continuing on.
Deputy's Push Bumper Couldn't Stop the Chase
A deputy who arrived at the scene attempted to stop the SUV using his patrol vehicle's push bumper, the same report notes. The maneuver didn't work — the driver instead drove over a curb, exited the market, and crossed all lanes of travel on M-72, according to the account relayed by 9&10 News.
The SUV then went into a ditch on the south side of M-72, disabling the vehicle and finally bringing the pursuit to an end. The station's report indicates deputies got the woman out of the vehicle at that point, and no injuries were reported from any part of the incident.
Strong Odor of Intoxicants Prompts OWI Investigation
Once the woman was removed from the SUV, deputies reported detecting a strong odor of intoxicants, per the sheriff's office. Deputies started a drunk driving investigation at the scene and also took statements from witnesses who had seen portions of the crash sequence unfold, the same account notes.
She was arrested on suspicion of second-offense operating while intoxicated, resisting and obstructing, fleeing and eluding, leaving the scene of a crash, driving with a suspended license, and having open intoxicants, according to the sheriff's office findings relayed in MLive's reporting, which separately confirmed the same list of suspected offenses tied to the Acme Township crash.
What Michigan Law Says About the Charges
Under Michigan law, a person — whether licensed or not — may not operate a vehicle while intoxicated on a highway or any place generally accessible to motor vehicles, including a parking area, according to the Michigan Legislature. Fourth-degree fleeing and eluding, one of the other suspected offenses in this case, is classified under state statute as a felony punishable by up to two years in prison, a fine of up to $2,000, or both, per the legislature's published code.
No arraignment information or further case disposition has been confirmed. The woman's name has not been released.
