A San Tan Valley woman has been arrested for driving under the influence, hit-and-run, and littering.
According to witnesses, Kathleen Fleetwood, 65, drove her Buick Enclave into a construction zone on North Gary Road south of West Hunt Highway in San Tan Valley around 1 p.m. Witnesses state that she was driving about 50 miles per hour in a designated 35 mile-an-hour zone. Her vehicle drifted to the right side of the roadway, causing her to sideswipe a large water truck. She then struck a 41-year-old construction worker before fleeing the scene. Two witnesses, including the construction site supervisor, followed Fleetwood and boxed her car in before she was able to fully flee the scene. Once stopped, Fleetwood exited her car and threw a vodka bottle into the bushes.
The construction worker, who was thrown through the air, suffered severe injuries and was airlifted to a Phoenix area hospital. There is no current word on his condition.
When police arrived on the scene, “they suspected [Fleetwood] was impaired by alcohol based on her slurred speech, poor balance and heavy odor of alcohol,” according to Sheriff Paul Babeu. After the accident, Fleetwood was booked into jail, but quickly posted her $10,000 bond and returned home. A disgusted Babeu concluded that “the innocent victim in this case isn’t able to go home, but is still in the hospital trying to recover from his injuries caused by Kathleen Fleetwood. The victim’s life will forever be changed due to the decision of Kathleen Fleetwood to get behind the wheel of her vehicle while impaired by alcohol.”
Fleetwood faces two counts of aggravated assault, criminal damage, criminal littering, driving under the influence of an intoxicating beverage and driving under the influence of an intoxicating beverage with a blood alcohol content of .08 or higher. According to Sgt. Pat Ramirez, additional criminal charges are pending.
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