FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — A 33-year-old woman is facing charges after deputies say she hurt three people in a crash while under the influence of alcohol and fled the scene in Fort Lauderdale this past weekend.
Authorities identified the suspect as Karen Barrios, of Hallandale Beach.
The crash happened just before 6:30 p.m. Saturday on Marina Mile Boulevard near the southbound Interstate 95 exit ramp, according to the Broward Sheriff’s Office.
Investigators said a BSO sergeant was heading westbound on Marina Mile Boulevard when he observed the crash in the westbound lanes.
They said a white Buick, driven by Barrios, was stopped on the left side of the roadway with front-end damage, while a gray Jeep was against a wall on the right side, facing eastbound in the westbound lanes, with significant rear passenger-side damage.
The report states that sergeant briefly checked on Barrios, who indicated she was OK.
He then turned his attention to the occupants of the Jeep, who had visible injuries. Deputies said Barrios then fled the scene headed west without providing information or rendering aid.
Deputies said a second sergeant followed Barrios and located her shortly after in a parking lot in Dania Beach.
According to deputies, Barrios showed several signs of impairment, including “glassy eyes, slurred speech, and unsteadiness on her feet.”
Investigators determined the Jeep, carrying three people, was traveling westbound on Marina Mile Boulevard when Barrios exited the I-95 ramp and failed to yield the right-of-way.
Deputies said her car struck the rear passenger side of the Jeep, causing it to flip multiple times.
They said at least two people in the Jeep suffered multiple cuts. All three occupants told deputies they wished to press charges, the report states.
Deputies later detained Barrios and noted a “strong odor of alcoholic beverages coming from her breath.” They said she refused medical treatment and declined to perform field sobriety exercises at the scene.
According to the report, Barrios told deputies she is “blind in both eyes,” later clarifying she has partial vision issues and said she suffers from seizures if she does not take her medication, though she reported not having a seizure at the time of the crash.
Deputies said she later participated in a sobriety test but showed multiple signs of impairment, including losing balance, missing heel-to-toe steps, and making an improper turn.
Barrios was taken into custody and transported to BSO’s breath alcohol testing center, though her blood alcohol level was not listed in the report.
Jail records show she is facing one count of DUI, three counts of DUI causing damage to property or injury, and one count of hit-and-run involving serious bodily injury.
As of Tuesday morning, she was not listed as an inmate in the Broward County Main Jail.
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