A Leesburg woman involved in a crash was arrested after giving a fake name and fleeing a hospital to avoid charges from a warrant.
A deputy responded to a crash with multiple injuries at Lock Road and Tammi Drive in Leesburg around 8:30 p.m. Saturday, according to an arrest report from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. The crash involved an SUV and 33-year-old Christina Marie Roche on a motor scooter.
The deputy met with Lake EMS who was about to transport Roche to AdventHealth Waterman, located at 1000 Waterman Way, Tavares, for her injuries. She gave law enforcement the name of “Christina Martin” before being taken to the hospital. Meanwhile, the crash investigation found she was at fault, the report said.
However, the deputy could not find an ID card for the name she gave. He then went to the hospital to speak with Roche who gave the same information. Dispatch ultimately found her true identity and learned she had an active Lake County warrant for retail theft, the report said.
As the deputy returned to arrest Roche, an attending nurse advised that she had fled from the hospital in spite of her injuries from the crash. A “Be on the Lookout” alert was put out for her, and the Tavares Police Department found her at 7-Eleven, located at 2420 E Burleigh Blvd., Eustis. She was subsequently brought back to the hospital for medical treatment, the report said.
Roche was later released and arrested on charge of false ID given to law enforcement officer. She was also charged with two counts of retail theft (less than $750) for the warrant. The New York native was transported to Lake County Jail and released after posting $3,000 bond.