Deputies arrested an Illinois woman for her 6th OWI on Thursday after she crashed into a tree in Caledonia.
The 45-year-old Wadsworth, Illinois woman was driving 70 mph in a 45 zone on STH 31 at 5 Mile Road.
A deputy attempted to stop her, but she sped away from the squad at speeds reaching over 100 mph.
"This isn't her first offense where we can understand people have made mistakes, this is her 6th offense," said Racine County Sheriff Christopher Schmaling.
While fleeing from the officer, authorities say the driver struck a tree on the east side of STH 32 at STH 31. The Racine County Sheriff's Office says she drove 1.15 miles in just over one minute from the time the Deputy activated his emergency lights to the time of the crash.
"She indicated that she had heard the sirens and seen the lights but she didn't have a license so she wasn't gonna stop, but she denied drinking," said Schmaling. "It was abundantly clear to everyone at that scene that she had more than enough to drink."
Deputies said they could smell alcohol on the woman. They also found a bottle of alcohol in her vehicle.
The driver was extricated from the vehicle by rescue personnel and transported to Ascension Racine. She broke her right leg in multiple places.
"Clearly she has some issues with drinking, she needs to get help and she needs to be locked up because clearly she's shown society and the system, the entire community that no matter what we do it's not going to be enough," said Schmaling.
She is now facing her 6th OWI charge, along with Fleeing from an Officer, Operate While Revoked. She also received two citations for Fail to Stop at a Stop Sign.
