A young Indiana woman was not having the best night when she nearly crashed into a utility pole in the early morning of Saturday, June 13. What’s even worse was when she backed up, she almost crashed into a parked car before giving up and stopping in the middle of the street.
Unfortunately, for the driver, she was spotted doing this by a Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s officer in the area. After the car was stopped, the officer said he saw the driver get out and switch seats with someone else in the car, likely to keep on going with their night.
The original driver was identified as 21-year-old Brittan Chandley, who was found to be intoxicated at the time of the incident. Not only that, but when she failed sobriety tests, she was found to have a Blood Alcohol Content of .252.
That number is more than three times Indiana’s legal driving limit of 0.08%. She was then arrested and taken to jail, but not before having to go through multiple attempts at getting a blood sample at a hospital.
What Really Went Down?
According to authorities, the incident unfolded just before 2:30 a.m. on West Franklin Street near St. Joseph Avenue in Evansville. A deputy with the Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office said he first spotted the vehicle after observing what appeared to be erratic and dangerous driving behavior.
The deputy reported seeing the vehicle make an unusually wide turn that carried it into the lanes of oncoming traffic. From there, the situation only escalated as the driver allegedly struggled to maintain control of the car.
Authorities said the vehicle continued traveling directly toward a pole before suddenly swerving at the last moment, narrowly avoiding a collision. Moments later, deputies said the car headed toward a parked vehicle before eventually stopping in the middle of the road.
It was after this that officers watched as another person in the car got out, which prompted them to believe that the driver was trying to switch seats.
What Is She Being Charged With?
As a result of the incident, Brittan Chandley is being charged with operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated. If convicted, she faces up to one year in jail, fines up to $5,000, and potential driver’s license suspension.
Authorities conducted field sobriety testing, which they said Chandley failed. Investigators then administered additional testing and determined her blood alcohol concentration measured 0.252, which is more than three times Indiana’s legal driving limit of 0.08%.
Chandley had reportedly admitted that she and the other person had just left a bar and acknowledged that she had been driving the vehicle. Because of the severity of her intoxication, authorities said obtaining a blood sample proved difficult.
Deputies reported that multiple attempts were required at the hospital due to both Chandley’s intoxication level and issues with cooperation during the process.
Reactions To Drunk Indiana Driver Nearly Crashing Twice
On the Hoosier Mugs’s Facebook page, which posted Chandley’s mugshot from the Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office, various commenters left their opinions in the replies below. One person wrote, “Girls night out, And apparently she had a very good time.”
Another person wrote, “I don’t know what she did but she looks satisfied about it .” Similarly, another comment read, “It’s always driving while intoxicated here in Evansville lol.”
The arrest serves as another reminder of the dangers associated with impaired driving, particularly during late-night hours when visibility is reduced and reaction times become even more critical. Law enforcement agencies continue to urge drivers who have been drinking to make alternate transportation plans, whether that means using a rideshare service, calling a sober friend, or staying put until they are safe to drive.
As with all criminal cases, Brittan Chandley is innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. Local authorities did not release additional identifying information.
When agencies provide limited details, we supplement reporting with local news coverage, public records, and direct outreach whenever possible. In this case, no additional information was available at the time of publication.