A Columbus woman who was texting while driving after consuming consuming alcohol struck a utility pole, causing her sport-utility vehicle to catch fire, police said.
Savannah N. Hall, 28 of 5270 E. Forster Ave., Columbus, said she was driving home when the accident occurred at 3:07 a.m. Sunday, according to the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department.
Sgt. Kris Weisner and Deputy Jarod Aspenson responded to the single-vehicle crash in the area of South County Road 250E and East County Road 275S, southeast of Columbus.
Upon arriving, Weisner observed a split utility pole and a Jeep Commander on its side with smoke coming from the engine compartment, police said.
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Weisner saw Hall climb out of the vehicle. Afterward, she indicated that she was driving home after consuming alcohol earlier in the evening and that she was texting at the time of the traffic accident, police said.
A short time later, the Jeep’s engine compartment burst into flames, engulfing the entire vehicle.
Hall was arrested on a charge of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence.
She was booked into the Bartholomew County Jail at 9:23 a.m. Sunday on a $5,000 bond, but released on the new-arrest proxy program.
Also assisting at the scene were Columbus Regional Emergency Medical Service and the Columbus Township Volunteer Fire Department.
