Further investigation into a two-vehicle collision that resulted in serious injuries on Wednesday has led to the arrest of a Benton woman.
Princeton Police Chief Chris King says that 37-year-old Jennifer C. Strait of Benton was taken into custody after being discharged from the Caldwell Medical Center just after ten Thursday morning. She is being charged with her second DUI offense, aggravating circumstances, driving on a DUI suspended license, no or expired registration, driving without a license negligent in accident, and leaving the scene of an accident failure to render aid or assist with death or serious physical injury, which is a felony offense, in connection with the two-vehicle collision Wednesday afternoon.
Chief King states that officers responded to the collision on US Highway 62 West, near Walmart, just after one on Wednesday. He adds that Strait was eastbound on US 62 West in a 2012 Nissan when, for unknown reasons, her vehicle rear-ended an eastbound 2018 Chevrolet driven by 79-year-old Mary O. Jewell of Princeton.
Chief King explains that Jewell’s vehicle left the left side of the roadway traveling approximately 600 feet, striking several trees, coming to a rest off the roadway in a wooded area. Strait’s vehicle then continued eastbound on 62 West for approximately 9 tenths of a mile before becoming disabled.
Jewell was extricated by mechanical means from her vehicle by the Princeton Fire Department and was airlifted from the scene by Air Evac Lifeteam to Deaconess Hospital in Evansville. Strait was transported to Caldwell Medical Center ER for treatment of injuries and was later lodged in the Caldwell County Jail.
Officers were assisted at the scene by Princeton Fire Department, Caldwell County EMS, and Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office.
