Saline County woman charged for wrong way driving, DWI resulting in a crash
Madison Stuerman
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
A Marshall woman has been charged after she was accused of driving on the wrong way of Highway 65 while intoxicated.
Lauren Ngaue, 32, is charged with aggravated fleeing a stop causing physical injury, second-degree assault, DWI resulting in serious physical injury, armed criminal action and two traffic misdemeanors.
Court documents state Pettis County deputies were informed about a wrong-way driver southbound on Highway 65 in the northbound lanes. Deputies said they saw the car as it was driving 90 miles per hour, head-on towards their patrol cars.
Deputies used spike strips to disable three of the tires at the intersection of Highway 65 and Highway HH. The driver, identified as Ngaue, continued to drive away from law enforcement with their lights on, leading to a chase.
Still in the wrong lanes, the driver hit another car, causing damage to both cars, according to documents.
Ngaue was taken into custody after she was checked out by EMS and refused any care.
Deputies said she smelled of alcohol, was moving slowly and had slurred speech. She allegedly told them she had several beers and “shooters” of alcohol that were found in the car.
The other driver was placed into a C-collar and taken to Bothwell Regional Health Center after they were extricated from the vehicle. Deputies also reported the driver had blood running down her face.
Ngaue was on probation for assault and DWI, according to records.
She is being held at the Pettis County Jail without bond.