Drunk Woman Crashes After Leaving Ark Brewery

Around 11:27 PM on March 17, 2023, Patrolman John DiBiase with the Medford Township Police Department responded to a motor vehicle accident on Medford-Mount Holly Road in the vicinity of Route 70. He arrived on scene and made contact with the driver of a white 2010 Honda Accord, who was identified as Madeline. The Honda Accord had sustained severe front-end damages after striking a 2007 Hyuudai Santa Fe.

He asked Madeline to explain what happened, and she told him that she had “fender bendered.” As he was speaking with Madeline, Patrolman DiBiase detected the odor of alcohol. Madeline told him that she was coming from Ark Brewery in Lumberton, and admitted to consuming alcohol earlier that evening. Based on his suspicion of impairment, Madeline was asked to perform field sobriety exercises.

Patrolman DiBiase started with the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN) test. During the HGN test, Patrolman DiBiase observed the lack of smooth pursuit, distinct and sustained nystagmus at maximum deviation, and the onset of nystagmus prior to 45 degrees. The second exercise was the Walk and Turn test. During the Walk and Turn test, Madeline did not touch heel-to-toe on each step and took an incorrect number of steps. The final exercise was the One Leg Stand test, and Madeline failed to raise her foot in the proper fashion and put her foot down before the test was complete.

Based on the motor vehicle crash, her admission to consuming alcohol, and her inability to satisfactorily complete the field sobriety exercises, Madeline was placed under arrest for driving under the influence. After she was placed under arrest and placed in the patrol car, her vehicle was impounded for a 12-hour hold under John’s Law. Patrolman DiBiase initially transported Madeline to the Medford Lakes Police Department for further processing.

At the station, Madeline agreed to submit breath samples for testing. When they first started the 20-minute observation, Madeline vomited and they had to restart the 20-minute observation period. When they were about to administer the breathalyzer machine, Madeline vomited again so the 20-minute observation period had to be restarted again. When Madeline eventually submitted breath samples, the Alcotest machine malfunctioned.

Since their Alcotest was malfunctioning at the Medford Lakes Police Department, they decided to transport Madeline to the Evesham Township Police Department. At the Evesham Township Police Department, Madeline completed another 20-minute observation before submitting breath samples. Her Alcotest results from the Evesham Township Police Department indicated a BAC level of 0.14%, which was nearly double the legal limit of 0.08%.

After she submitted breath samples at the Evesham Township Police Department, Patrolman DiBiase gave her a ride home to her apartment. She was released to her fiancé pending her court appearance after he signed the Potential Liability Warning form on Madeline’s behalf. She was issued the following citations: Operating under the influence, reckless driving, and having an unregistered motor vehicle

Court records indicate that on September 14, 2023, Madeline pleaded guilty to operating under the influence. As a result of her pleading guilty to operating under the influence, she had to spend 12 hours at an intoxicated driver resource center and pay a total of $640 in fines. The other 2 citations were dismissed as part of a plea agreement.

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