Indianapolis woman facing drunken driving charges

Thursday, June 21, 2012

An Indianapolis woman was incarcerated Tuesday evening following a pair of alcohol-related automobile accidents in the Greencastle area.

Kali Jane Rugenstein was lodged at the Putnam County Jail facing charges of operating while intoxicated, public intoxication and failure to stop following a motor vehicle accident.

The 27-year-old was also wanted on a March 2012 Putnam County warrant for failure to appear in court.

A first call came in to Putnam County Dispatch shortly after 7:30 p.m. of a hit-and-run accident in the parking lot of the Greencastle Aquatic Center.

While Greencastle Police Officer Matt Huffman investigated the accident, a witness followed Rugenstein, who left Greencastle eastbound on State Road 240 in a 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo.

As Rugenstein was eastbound through Chadd Valley east of the city she attempted to make a right turn onto County Road 450 East.

Jeremy L. Trammell, 22, Poland, was stopped on 450 East and noticed Rugenstein approaching at a high rate of speed. Rugenstein's speed left her unable to negotiate the turn, and she collided with the driver's side of Trammell's 1991 Ford F150.

Witnesses said Rugenstein attempted to leave in her car, but it was disabled. She then fled on foot, following a verbal confrontation with the witness from the first accident.

The witness had alerted police to the second accident. Putnam County Sheriff's Deputy Dwight Simmons investigated the accident, while GPD Officer Darrel Bunten searched for Rugenstein.

Bunten was able to locate and apprehend Rugenstein. She was transported to the Putnam County Jail, where she tested at .28 percent blood alcohol content.

She was booked into the jail at 10 p.m.

Neither Rugenstein nor Trammell was injured in the collision, which caused between $2,501 and $5,000 in damage.

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