Woman accused of DUI after crashing, fleeing with two children in vehicle

A Greencastle woman was jailed on multiple felony and misdemeanor charges Saturday evening for allegedly driving drunk with two children in the car.

Angela Marie Romandine, 41, reportedly tried to flee the scene of the single-vehicle crash but the car only made it about 400 yards from the original site.

At 6:21 p.m. Deputy Robert Soilleux was dispatched to reports of a vehicle trying to flee a crash scene on U.S. 231 north of County Road 200 North.

Soilleux arrived to find the 2005 Scion XB a short distance from the original site were a vehicle had crashed into a small tree. He said there was what appeared to be fresh damage on the vehicle, with the passenger side of the front bumper resting on the ground, as well as the underbody and muffler covered in a large amount of dirt and grass.

Soilleux and Sgt. Riley Houghton also found a woman, later identified as Romandine, pounding on the hood of the vehicle in an attempt to get it to start.

Questioned by police, Romandine told deputies she did not crash and refused to explain the damage. However, two small children in the car (ages 3 and 4) told officers “Mommy crashed the car.”

The children were not hurt in the crash. Romandine suffered minor facial bleeding.

Investigating the crash scene, Soilleux said it appeared from tire marks that the vehicle was southbound when it crossed the center line and northbound lane before leaving the east side of the road, leaving marks in the ditch and almost hitting a guardrail.

Tracks indicate the vehicle then re-entered the road, crossing both lanes and entering the southbound ditch, where tire marks ended next to a small tree that appeared to be damaged.

Romandine tested at .20 percent alcohol concentration equivalent on a portable breath test. She was taken into custody and transported to the Putnam County Jail, where she tested at .19 on the certified test.

She was booked in a 9:28 p.m. on two counts of neglect of a dependent, driving while intoxicated, driving while intoxicated with a prior conviction, leaving the scene of a property-damage crash, battery, intimidation and disorderly conduct.

The report was turned over to the Putnam County Prosecutor’s Office for a determination of formal charges.

Soilleux estimated damage at $2,500-$5,000. The vehicle was towed.