A Mifflintown woman has been charged with DUI and aggravated assault by vehicle after state police at Lewistown said she was involved in a crash that injured a pedestrian, then struck the ambulance that responded.
The incident occurred about 2 a.m. Saturday at the Red Zone Bar in Fermanagh Township, Juniata County, according to state police.
Emily Smith, 33, was backing out of a parking space at the bar in her 2004 Chevrolet Venture when the rear of her car struck a curb. When she pulled forward, the front of her car struck the front of a 1997 Dodge Dakota, that had backed into a parking space next to the building. The impact pushed the Dodge backward. Steven Welshonse, 36, address unavailable, was standing behind the Dodge and was pinned betweent he Dodge and the building.
At some point after the impact, police said Smith fled the scene, but as she was leaving, her vehicle encountered a Central Juniata EMS ambulance. The ambulance, with its emergency lights and siren activated, was responding to the initial scene and encountered Smith’s car at the entrance to the parking lot. As Smith tried to go around the ambulance, the driver’s side of her car struck the driver’s side of the ambulance, police said.
The ambulance personnel followed Smith to her residence, where police said she was found to be under the influence of alcohol.
Welshonse was transported to Lewistown Hospital for treatment of leg injuries.
Smith was transported to Juniata County Prison on a violation of probation charge. In addition, she will be charged with accidents involving death or personal injury, accidents involving damage to attended vehicle and several summary violations, police said.
