- An intoxicated motorist is in jail this morning after a sheriff’s deputy observed her driving a Jeep onto the USI – Burdette Park Trial and then striking a concrete safety pylon.
On Saturday, January 20, 2018 at 9:15 PM a sheriff’s deputy observed a white Jeep Wrangler speeding through a parking lot on the University of Southern Indiana campus near the entrance of the USI – Burdette Park Trail. The Jeep entered the pedestrian only trail and disregarded all attempts by the deputy to pull the vehicle over.
The Jeep continued driving at a high rate of speed until it slowed and then struck a concrete pylon in place to prevent motor vehicles from accessing the trail via Broadway Avenue. After striking the pylon, the driver shifted the vehicle into reverse and backed into the front of the deputy’s marked patrol unit.
The deputy made contact with the driver, who identified herself as Ms. Tara Evans. When asked if she knew where she was, Ms. Evans replied that she was “driving to a friends house off Schutte Road”. Ms. Evans appeared not to be aware that she was on the USI campus or that she was on a pedestrian trail.
Ms. Evans admitted to having consumed alcoholic beverages prior to the crash. Ms. Evans failed field sobriety testing on scene and agreed to perform a certified chemical breath test at a different location. The result of the certified chemical breath test determined that Evans’s blood alcohol level was .18%, which is more than double the legal limit of .08%. Ms. Evans was arrested and booked in the Vanderburgh County Jail
No pedestrians were on the trail at the time of the crash. Both vehicles sustained only minor damage.
ARRESTED:
Tara Denise Evans (pictured above), 33, of Eansville. Operating a Motor Vehicle while Intoxicated with a BAC Greater than .15 as a Class A Misdemeanor, Operating a Motor Vehicle while Intoxicated as a Class A Misdemeanor.
Presumption of Innocence Notice: The fact that a person has been arrested or charged with a crime is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.
