BEDFORD — On Sunday, March 17th, at approximately 12:35 a.m., Bedford Police officers responded to a report of a property damage accident in the area of 9th and I Streets. But before police could arrive, the caller reported that the driver of a white Traverse SUV involved in the accident fled the scene, and they appeared to be intoxicated.
Officer Sarah Haluda was in the area and spotted the vehicle, which had front-end damage, and the driver’s side was traveling south on Columbus Avenue, a block east of the accident scene.
The vehicle approached Officer Haluda head-on and swerved to continue onto 9th Street. Officer Haluda turned around and initiated a traffic stop.
The vehicle continued traveling west, finally stopping at Summit Lane and J Streets.
The driver was 50-year-old Brandi Kern of Orleans. Officer Haluda advised Kern why she was being stopped and could smell alcohol. Kern was asked if she had been drinking, and she turned to her passenger, 46-year-old Brian Lake, and said he had been. Lake confirmed he had been drinking.
Kern was asked for her license, and she then began reaching around the back of her vehicle but didn’t appear to be looking for anything. She then asked to leave the vehicle and look in the back seat. She was allowed to do so. Officer Haluda said Kern was unsteady on her feet and was holding herself by leaning on the SUV. She then returned to the front seat and handed Officer Haluda her license which was in the front seat.
Both were then asked to step out of the vehicle and match the description of those involved in the accident.
Lake told police Kern was driving and refused to answer any other questions.
Kern told police she and Lake had gone to several places throughout the evening and had ultimately been drinking at a friend’s house. She said she had consumed two Michelob Ultras. She told police she was driving down I Street when she sideswiped another vehicle and then fled the scene. When asked if she was actually driving when the accident occurred she hesitated.
The driver of the vehicle who was struck told police he had left Healthy Balance gym and was traveling north on I Street when his vehicle was sideswiped by a white SUV attempting to make a turn onto I Street. The male driver of the SUV got out of the driver’s side and tried to get him not to report the accident. The male driver of the SUV then got back into the driver’s seat and left the female passenger there. She then walked from the scene.
Kern failed several field sobriety tests. She was transported to IU Health Bedford Hospital by Officer Brent Thompkins for a blood draw.
Lake refused a chemical test, and Officer Clay Blackburn transported him to the Bedford Police Department. A search warrant was granted for a blood draw, and he was then transported to IU Health Hospital for a blood test.
Bedford officers completed an inventory of the Traverse, and the vehicle was impounded after police found a baggie containing 15 and two partial Acetaminophen/Hydrocodone pills and two open, mostly empty bottles of Old Smokey moonshine.
Both Kern and Lake were transported to the Lawrence County Jail. Lake had a blood-alcohol content of 0.149 percent, and Lake had a blood-alcohol level of 0.163 percent.
Kern is facing charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated, OWI endangerment, and possession of a controlled substance.
Lake is facing charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated, OWI endangerment, OWI with a prior conviction, and leaving the scene of an accident.
