Woman facing OVI charge after fleeing scene of crash

(WHIO/Stock photo)

(WHIO/Stock photo)

Police were called to a crash scene at Chestnut and Beech streets at 9:44 p.m. Sept. 17 in which the driver of one of the vehicles said his car was hit by another which crossed the center line. He said the woman driving the other vehicle had left the scene on foot and he believed she was intoxicated.

The woman was found lying in some brush in a nearby tree line and was told several times to come out of the woods, but replied, “I’m good,” and had to be removed, according to police.

She exhibited poor motor skills, according to a police report, and was seated on a wall before falling over backwards and laughing. She admitted drinking but denied taking any drugs, the report stated.

She was identified as Patricia Mae Couch, 39.

Couch had been traveling west on Chestnut Street and crossed left of center striking the oncoming vehicle.

From the outside of the vehicle, the officer could reportedly see an open bottle of Fireball whiskey on the passenger seat and inside the vehicle found an empty bottle of Fireball and three empty cans of Twisted Tea. There was a Yetti type cup with lid on the center console that smelled of Twisted Tea and Fireball. Couch’s license could not be found in the vehicle.

An EMS crew was called and she became combative, threatening to smack and kick them, according to the report. It was determined she needed to go to the hospital.

She continued to struggle with the EMS personnel, kicking one and attempting to bite the other. That behavior continued at the hospital, screaming at everyone and attempting to bite and kick people, according to the police report.

She consented to a blood draw for police purposes but then fought efforts for a second blood draw for medical reasons, requiring three people to hold her down to prevent her biting them, according to the report.

When she was medically cleared to leave the hospital and was taken to the Butler County Jail. She was charged with operating a vehicle intoxicated, failure to stop after an accident on public roads, assault, open container and lanes of travel upon roadways.

The blood specimen kit and two bottles of open Fireball were collected and checked into evidence.

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