By NATE KING
Salina Post
A Salina woman was charged Tuesday evening after the car she was driving veered off the road and landed in a ditch along Ninth Street in Salina.
Salina Police Sergeant Tonniges said this morning that at approximately 9:12 p.m. witnesses saw Tamara Savage-Knight, 50, Salina, northbound on Ninth Street when her red 2014 Ford Taurus veered left across the median and both southbound lanes.
Tonniges said the vehicle came to a rest against a retaining wall in a ditch in front of the Dillion's, 2350 Planet Avenue.
Multiple eyewitnesses to the crash reported to police that they saw Savage-Knight fleeing the scene, running northbound toward the McDonald's, 2236 Planet Avenue.
When officers arrived at McDonald's they spoke with Savage-Knight. Despite eyewitnesses seeing her leave the scene, she told officers she was not involved with the accident.
Tonniges also noted that Savage-Knight did have some injuries consistent with the seat belt lock and airbag deployment.
Towards the conclusion of officers questioning, Savage-Knight said she had been a passenger in the vehicle at the time of the accident.
Responding officers said they allegedly smelled the odor of alcohol on her breathe and that she had admitted to taking an undisclosed number of prescription pills that would inhibit her ability to drive a vehicle.
Salina Police conducted a DUI investigation, and she was determined to be impaired and was arrested for DUI.
Tonniges said following the arrest, she complained of chest and back pain and was transported to Salina Regional Health Center. Officers ended up citing her for DUI, instead of making the custodial arrest because she was admitted to the hospital for leaving the scene of an accident.
The following are the requested charges:
●DUI [Third Offense]
●Duty of driver to report an accident
●No proof of insurance
● Driving while suspended
●Operating a vehicle without an ignition interlock device