A three-vehicle crash Thursday night led to the arrest of a Bellefontaine woman on suspicion of operating a vehicle under the influence.
According to reports from the Bellefontaine Police Department, officers and emergency crews were dispatched around 8:30 p.m. to the intersection of County Road 1 and Gunntown Road for a reported injury crash involving three vehicles.
Upon arrival, officers found an Acura, a Honda Accord, and a Honda CR-V involved in the collision.
Several individuals were outside the vehicles, including Kristen Carpenter, 48, of Bellefontaine, who was the driver of the Acura.
Initially, there were reports of chest pain at the scene, but Carpenter told responders she was not experiencing chest pain related to the crash and said she had been ill.
While speaking with her, officers noticed she showed several signs of impairment.
According to the report, Carpenter admitted she had been driving and said she had made a turn before striking another vehicle, but was unsure exactly what happened.
Witnesses at the scene told officers that Carpenter turned onto Gunntown Road from County Road 1, hitting the rear of the Honda CR-V, before also hitting the Honda Accord.
Officers also reported finding an open container of beer in the center console of the Acura, along with an open 30-pack of beer in the back seat.
Carpenter reportedly told officers she had been at a local restaurant and had “a couple” drinks, but did not believe she was impaired.
She declined to perform field sobriety tests.
Carpenter was taken into custody on suspicion of OVI and transported to the Bellefontaine Police Department.
There, she refused to submit to a breath test.
Her driver’s license was seized, and an administrative suspension was imposed.
She was cited for operating a vehicle under the influence, improper turning at an intersection, and open container.
Carpenter was then transported to the Logan County Jail.
