Woman arrested after crash on 3rd driving drunk offense
A 30-year-old Romulus woman was arraigned Friday on her third drunken driving offense after she allegedly caused a chain-reaction crash involving six vehicles that seriously injured at least one victim, officials said.
Julie Lynn Vaughn was video arraigned in Clinton Township’s 41B District Court on felony charges of operating while intoxicated causing serious injury and driving with a suspended license causing serious injury. She received a $10,000 bond and was lodged in the Macomb County Jail.
Her two prior drunken driving convictions were in 2008 in Inkster and 2014 in Westland, according to officials.
“The third offense is a felony,” Macomb County Sheriff’s Lt. John Michalke said.
The crash happened around 11:45 p.m. Wednesday on westbound Interstate 94 near the North River exit in Harrison Township, he said.
“She was driving in the rain and lost control and ended up in a chain-reaction crash involving six vehicles,” Michalke said.
The traffic snarl began after Vaughn, driving a 2002 Dodge Durango, allegedly rear-ended one vehicle, which spun around and stopped in a center lane. One car swerved to avoid the struck vehicle, but ended up hitting another vehicle.
The chain reaction continued until six vehicles were involved, Michalke said. At least one serious injury and one minor injury was reported.
Vaughn also was hurt in the crash and was taken to McLaren-Macomb Hospital for treatment.
She told deputies at the scene she could not remember “exactly” what happened and denied she had been drinking. A preliminary breath test indicated she was above the legal limit, officials said.
Results of a blood draw were pending.
Vaughn was released from the hospital Thursday and taken to jail. She is due back in court Oct. 12, officials said.
The woman is the second alleged drunken driver taken off Macomb streets in roughly 24 hours, Michalke said.
A day earlier, Vito Agrusa, 41, of Shelby Township was arrested after Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel said he witnessed Agrusa swerve along 24 Mile and crash into a minivan.
Hackel gave chase for several miles while on the phone to 911 dispatchers until deputies caught up and made the arrest.
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