A call about a reckless driver in Madisonville Saturday night led to a pursuit on Interstate 169 that ended with the arrest of a Hopkinsville woman facing multiple charges.
According to Madisonville Police, an officer spotted a vehicle driven by 22-year-old Peri Brown near Madison Square just before 9:00 Saturday night with no brake or taillights. When the officer tried to pull her over, police said she sped onto I-169, ignored work zone signs, made unsafe lane changes, and crossed into oncoming traffic without headlights, forcing several vehicles to swerve into another lane.
Police said they stopped the vehicle by boxing it in, but as officers exited their cars, Brown reversed into a cruiser, causing damage and narrowly missing the officers.
Officers said Brown showed signs of intoxication and had open alcohol containers within reach inside the vehicle. They noted that two small children were in the back seat, with one car seat unsecured and a child partially hanging out of a booster seat with their face pressed against the driver’s seat.
Brown was arrested and taken to Baptist Health Deaconess Hospital for medical clearance, where police said she refused a blood draw, screamed at staff, and spat on the hospital floor.
Brown was transported to the Hopkins County Detention Center and charged with several traffic violations, DUI under aggravating circumstances, possession of an open alcoholic beverage container in a vehicle, fleeing and evading police, wanton endangerment, and wanton endangerment of a police officer.
