Flagler Woman Injures Officer After Leaving Her Car In Gear
Law enforcement officers have a tough job. They help people who are in need and put their lives at risk. As a case in point…
On Nov. 30, Courtney Crichton’s boyfriend attempted to take the keys away from Crichton when she was leaving his Flagler County residence, but she drove off anyway. Crichton had been drinking, and the boyfriend believed she could not safely operate a vehicle. After Crichton had left, the boyfriend called the sheriff’s office, wanting them to know his intoxicated girlfriend was behind the wheel of vehicle.
Flagler County Sheriff’s Office Corp. Kevin Byrne, an eight-year veteran of the agency, was called to the scene. As he was talking to Crichton’s boyfriend at the residence, an Acura SUV arrived at the scene that was driven by Crichton. Byrne motioned for Crichton to speak with him when she arrived. He spoke with Crichton and asked her if she would agree to a field sobriety test. Crichton said she did not have a problem with the field sobriety test.
Crichton stepped out of the vehicle but forgot to put the Acura SUV in park. The vehicle rolled and pinned Byrne between the Acura and his patrol car, injuring the officer. Byrne was able to unpin himself and had a conversation with Crichton. The woman became verbally combative with the officer, telling Byrne that she had suffered a stroke two weeks earlier and needed an ambulance. She then refused to take a field sobriety test. She was arrested, continuing to yell obscenities at the officer.
Crichton was transported to Florida Hospital Flagler and was given a blood test. The test showed that her blood alcohol level was .158, twice the legal limit of .08 in Florida. She was charged with DUI, property damage, personal injury, and disorderly intoxication. The officer searched her vehicle and discovered unopened alcohol beverages.
Byrne suffered an injury to his right leg and was expected to miss several weeks of work.
If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident that was caused by a drunk driver, call us today at the Law Offices of James O. Cunningham, P.A. – 877-FL-INJURY (877-354-6587).
James O. Cunningham
Since 1977, personal injury lawyer James Cunningham has provided effective legal advocacy to people who are injured through the negligent actions of another person or entity throughout the Central Florida area. He fights to obtain recoveries for his clients’ physical and emotional pain and suffering and pursues his clients’ personal injury cases with a commitment to excellence and impeccable preparation.