A Leesburg woman was arrested for a DUI incident last May in which she ran a stop sign, causing an accident with multiple injuries.
Chelsea Nicole Medley, 32, was brought in by the Leesburg Police Department on a Lake County warrant for a DUI charge, according to an arrest report from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
On the evening of May 14, 2023, an officer with the Tavares Police Department responded to the intersection of North Rockingham Avenue and East Caroline Street regarding a vehicle crash involving two vehicles with possible injuries and road blockage, according to an affidavit of probable cause out of Lake County.
Upon the officer’s arrival, he observed a red 2015 Toyota Tacoma truck flipped over on the front lawn of a residence on the northwest corner of North Rockingham Avenue and East Caroline Street. He also saw a woman, later identified as Medley, laying on the ground as another officer provided medical assistance, the affidavit said.
Additionally, the officer observed a white 2016 Mazda CX-3 AWD passenger car parked in the middle of the intersection on East Carline Street facing west. There was a female driver and a female passenger, the affidavit said.
The officer blocked the intersection with his vehicle and spoke with a male witness. He advised that the Tacoma was speeding north on North Rockingham Avenue and drove through the intersection of East Caroline Street without stopping at the stop sign. The Mazda was going west on Caroline Street, the affidavit said.
As a result, the Tacoma cut across the path of the Mazda, causing the Mazda to strike the Tacoma. The truck rolled over off the roadway and into the front lawn of a residence, landing on its side, the affidavit said.
Medley, the driver of the Tacoma, was trapped inside the vehicle but managed to crawl out through the front window. She told EMS that she had at least two beers, and the aroma of alcohol was on her person. She was taken to HCA Florida Lake Monroe Hospital, located at 1401 W. Seminole Boulevard in Sanford, with incapacitating injuries. A toxicology was requested, the affidavit said.
The driver of the Mazda reported no injuries but was concerned for her elderly mother, who was in the front passenger seat. Her mother was then taken to AdventHealth Waterman Hospital, located at 1000 Waterman Way in Tavares, with non-incapacitating injuries, the affidavit said.
On May 24, 2023, the officer submitted an investigative subpoena request to the State Attorney’s Office for the medical records containing the toxicology and blood content results of Medley from Monroe Hospital. These were reviewed Nov. 2, 2023, showing she had a blood alcohol level of “.278g/100mL.” This amount was about three times the legal limit of .08g/100mL, the affidavit said.
A citation was issued to Medley for violation of right of way for failure to stop at a stop sign. This was issued to her through USPS mail, the affidavit said.
The affidavit was signed Dec. 14, 2023, and Medley was arrested Monday. The Tennessee native was charged with DUI (with crash and property damage) and transported to the Lake County Jail. She was released after posting $1,000 bond.
