MITCHELL — A Bloomington woman is facing multiple charges, including two counts of operating a vehicle while intoxicated causing serious bodily injury, following a serious incident in Lawrence County this past summer.
Shelly L. Wright, 56, was involved in a motor vehicle accident on August 24, 2024, that left two men, William “Ed” Hodge and Joshua Wright, with serious injuries. After a detailed investigation, Detective Michael Williams of the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department requested a warrant be issued for Wright’s arrest.
Police responded to Storage Express at 6328 State Road 37 in Mitchell around 3:00 p.m. on August 24 after a report of an accident with injuries.
A subpoena to the Storage Express facility yielded crucial video evidence, which depicted a physical altercation between the two men before Wright’s vehicle accelerated and struck them both. Interviews with the victims confirmed the sequence of events observed in the footage.
Joshua Wright was found to have extensive abrasions, and medical records confirmed William Hodge had been rendered unconscious after being struck. The incident left both men with ongoing medical needs.
Wright submitted to a blood draw. Those results showed no alcohol, but both amphetamine and
methamphetamine in her system.
Further investigation revealed that Shelly Wright had a prior conviction for operating a vehicle while intoxicated in Monroe County, only weeks before the incident in Mitchell.
The information was forwarded to the Lawrence County Prosecutor’s Office, and a warrant was issued for Wright’s arrest. She was detained on Thursday, December 5.
Those facing criminal charges are considered innocent unless convicted through due legal proceedings. Accusations alone do not imply guilt; the judicial system will evaluate the presented evidence to reach a verdict.
