Poland woman, 45, hospitalized, charged following wrong-way crash

Monday, February 11, 2019
A Poland woman was hospitalized and charged with multiple alcohol-related misdemeanors after causing a head-on crash by driving the wrong way on Interstate 70 early Saturday morning.
Courtesy Putnam County Sheriff’s Department

CLOVERDALE — A wrong-way crash early Saturday morning on Interstate 70 sent three people to the hospital and has two drivers facing misdemeanor charges.

Forrest E. Thompson, 23, Terre Haute, told Deputy Robert Soilleux he had been westbound in the right lane following a semi in a 2007 Pontiac G6. He said that he pulled into the fast lane and was in the process of passing the semi when he saw eastbound headlights coming toward him.

Thompson said he moved as far right as he could before impact with the wrong-way driver.

Sheila J. Brinson, 45, Poland, had been the driver of the wrong-way vehicle, a 2006 Toyota Prius. Upon Soilleux’s arrival Brinson was pinned her vehicle. She said “Someone cut me off.” Asked where she was coming from, Brinson replied “east side of Indy.” At that point, she placed her head down on her steering wheel and stopped talking.

After Brinson was freed from the vehicle, the officer noted a strong odor of alcoholic beverage. When asked, Brinson said she had drank approximately eight beers over the course of the evening and was on her way home. She was read implied consent and submitted to a chemical test. She was then transported by helicopter to St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis for treatment. She complained of arm and lower body pain.

Thompson and his passenger, 21-year-old Leah Kraemer of Terre Haute, complained of head and neck pain. Thompson, who was pinned behind the wheel, said he could not feel his feet. Both he and Kraemer were taken to Terre Haute Regional Hospital by ambulance.

Jaskaran Singh, 25, Stockton, Calif., had been driving the semi, a 2019 Freightliner Columbia 112. He said he saw the headlights coming at them and that the wrong-way vehicle hit the other westbound vehicle, which in turn hit the side of his vehicle.

Singh was not injured.

Results of Brinson’s chemical test were pending when Soilleux filed his report. However, the deputy preliminarily charged her with driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, driving while intoxicated, driving while intoxicated causing serious bodily injury, driving the wrong way on a one-way road and a display of license plate violation.

Thompson was charged with misdemeanor driving with a suspended license.

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  • *

    I hate drunk drivers.

    -- Posted by dreadpirateroberts on Tue, Feb 12, 2019, at 9:02 AM
  • This drunken old hag needs to spend the rest of her life in prison.

    -- Posted by Queen53 on Tue, Feb 12, 2019, at 5:49 PM
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