A woman in Goshen, Indiana, is facing multiple charges after allegedly crashing her vehicle into a horse-drawn buggy. Five people were initially reported injured, including a baby who was transported to a local hospital.
As reported by the Times-Union, citing a probable cause affidavit, Kosciusko County Dispatch received a 911 call at around 7:05 p.m. on Friday, May 29. The caller reported that a car had hit a horse-drawn buggy.
First responders arrived at the scene and learned that the driver, later identified as 24-year-old Jakaila Miracle, had allegedly fled the scene. Meanwhile, one buggy occupant was lying on the roadway. Four other individuals, including a baby, were inside the vehicle when the crash occurred.
Dispatch shared Miracle’s vehicle description with members of the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO) and the Warsaw Police Department (WPD). Shortly after, the vehicle was located.
Vehicle Found
At around 7:24 p.m., a caller contacted dispatch, saying that they had observed Miracle’s vehicle driving on West U.S. 30 at CR 800W. A WPD officer located Miracle and conducted a traffic stop at CR 350W.
A KCSO drove to where the traffic stop had been conducted, immediately noticing the damage the woman’s vehicle had sustained on its front. Miracle, meanwhile, was sitting in the WPD’s patrol car.
Allegedly, Miracle denied being in an accident, despite his vehicle’s condition. Instead, as per the affidavit, she said she had hit a deer weeks before.
Field Sobriety Tests, Arrest
Court documents cited by the outlet detailed that Miracle was observed slurring her speech. She, however, allegedly denied drinking any alcohol, saying she had just gotten off work.
However, field sobriety tests were conducted after the 24-year-old woman consented. A breathalyzer test showed 0.14%, as per the police. That’s above the state’s legal limit of 0.08%. Furthermore, officers allegedly showed alcoholic drinks inside the woman’s car.
Miracle was subsequently transported to a local hospital. She acted erratically, court documents show, as she allegedly hit a deputy in the chest, flailed around, and splashed urine around her hospital room and onto deputies.
Suspect Charged, Victims’ Status
Jakaila Miracle was arrested and is charged with three counts of causing serious bodily injury while operating a vehicle, operating a vehicle while intoxicated, and three counts of battery. If convicted of her bodily injury charges, she could face up to a combined time of 18 years in prison and up to $30,000 in fines. She is being held at the Kosciusko County Jail on a $20,000 preliminary bond.
Reportedly, four adults suffered minor and major injuries as a result of the crash. Melvin Miller, 43, the buggy’s driver, suffered minor injuries on his legs. A female identified as Mabel, 43, had a broken nose, eye sockets, and leg lacerations. Karilyn Miller, 15, had a broken leg. Loir Miller, 41, suffered a brain bleed and, as of Saturday, May 30, was in the intensive care unit. She is scheduled for left arm and right leg surgery.
A baby, as mentioned above, was also transported to the hospital. Fortunately, doctors found that they had suffered no injuries in the collision.