Woman arrested after accident, charged with endangerment

Monday, August 7, 2006

A Greencastle woman was arrested over the weekend for allegedly endangering her children after falling asleep at the wheel.

Putnam County Sheriff's Deputy Matt Demmings responded to a one-vehicle accident on CR 150 North near CR 625 West at around 5:30 p.m. Friday. That's where he found 27-year-old Kristy Barger with her two children, age 8 and four months, in Barger's 1999 Chevrolet Venture van that had crashed into a row of fence posts.

Demmings reported that Barger told him she had fallen asleep while driving westbound on CR 150 North. Her vehicle crossed the center line and left the roadway where it came to rest in a fence row.

Neither Barger nor the children were injured in the crash, however, Demmings said he notified Child Protective Services after Barger reportedly confessed to being under the influence of prescription drugs for which she had no prescription.

In his report, Demmings said Barger was tested at Putnam County Hospital and was shown to have the drug Benzodiazepine in her system.

Demmings said Barger told him she received Xanax and Klonopin from a friend and that she had ingested Xanax and approximately 10 Klonopins. Demmings recovered three Xanax pills from the car.

Barger was arrested and booked into the Putnam County Jail just before 9 p.m. Friday for operating a vehicle while intoxicated and endangering a person, neglect of a dependent, and other lesser charges.

Demmings said Barger was scheduled to appear in court this week.

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