A Durango woman driving Sunday on Florida Road crashed through the roundabout near Chapman Hill, severely damaging three metal cyclist statues, according to police.
The crash occurred at 9:20 p.m. A Honda Accord appeared to have been traveling southwest toward Durango when it jumped the roundabout, struck the statues and came to rest on its driver’s side
Police identified the driver as Sonya Dees, 38, of Durango.
Dees was uninjured, but at least three of the five statues were damaged. The five 800-pound cyclist sculptures were created by Boulder artist Joshua Wiener and installed in August 2012.
Durango Police Department spokeswoman Amanda Garrison said Dees was arrested on suspicion of impaired driving after the crash.
“The driver initially refused to get out of the vehicle but eventually complied with officers,” Garrison said in a text message to The Durango Herald. “Police said the driver showed signs of impairment and admitted to drinking alcohol.”
According to an arrest affidavit, Dees was swaying, had bloodshot eyes and had an alcoholic odor on her breath. She also reportedly admitted to having been drinking earlier that night, and was found to have three 100 milliliter containers of 99 Brand liqueur in her possession.
“Dees explained that she was driving too fast, went over the curve at the entrance of the roundabout, hit the median and flipped the Honda,” the affidavit said.
The affidavit said Dees’ license had been revoked for two previous drunken driving convictions.
The affidavit said Dees refused to provide a chemical sample, so officers obtained and executed a blood warrant. The blood draw was completed at Animas Surgical Hospital about 1:45 a.m.
“The driver was arrested and booked into jail,” Garrison said. “The case remains under investigation.”
Photos included with the DPD’s Facebook post show the car resting on its driver’s side atop one of the sculptures, its rear windshield smashed and air bags deployed.
“A crash damaged some of the bicycling sculptures in the Florida Road roundabout,” the post said. “The good news is that there were no injuries. We’re grateful everyone is OK. Please continue to slow down, pay attention, and use caution in the area as damage is assessed.”
In a Facebook post Monday, the Durango Police Department warned drivers against driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
“Today, those bicyclists were artwork. Next time, they could be someone’s loved one,” the post said.
The post said Sunday night’s crash was a “sobering reminder of the dangers of impaired driving.”
“Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs puts everyone on the road at risk – drivers, passengers, bicyclists and pedestrians alike,” the post said. “If you are drinking or using drugs, do not get behind the wheel. Make a plan before you go out. Use a sober driver, call a ride or stay where you are.”
sedmondson@durangoherald.com
