A La Plata County woman who is accused of hitting a motorcyclist while drunken driving was formally charged Thursday with vehicular assault and driving under the influence of alcohol.
At 11:53 p.m. Aug. 16, 46-year-old Inez Jernberg-Feely, was driving eastbound in the 1600 block of Florida Road when she drifted into the oncoming lane hitting Otter Sliter, 34, on his motorcycle head-on, according to law enforcement.
After hitting the motorcyclist, her Audi Q5 veered off the road and struck two other unoccupied vehicles parked on the side of a residence along Florida Road before coming to a stop.
According to an arrest affidavit, her vehicle damaged a gray Dodge Dakota and a brown GMC Acadia.
The entire front side of Jernberg-Feely’s vehicle was destroyed, according to the report.
Sliter had to be airlifted to St. Anthony Hospital in Lakewood with life-threatening injuries. He was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.
Sliter’s fiancee, Meridith Rich, told The Durango Herald on Thursday that Sliter’s vital signs were stable but the couple were “taking it day-by-day” as it will be a long road to recovery.
Jernberg-Feely was taken to Mercy Hospital with minor injuries.
According to an arrest affidavit, Durango Police Department officer James Perkovich stayed in contact with Jernberg-Feely after the crash while she was receiving medical treatment.
While she was receiving medical treatment, he could smell a slight odor of alcohol. The officer also noticed a hint of alcohol on her breath while taking her to Mercy.
Jernberg-Feely admitted to having a beer at around 6 p.m. that night, but she refused a blood-alcohol test. A search warrant to test Jernberg-Feely’s blood for alcohol was obtained.
Investigators determined they had enough probable cause to make an arrest even without receiving the results of the blood-alcohol test.
She was formally arrested on Aug. 22 after turning herself in at the La Plata County Jail.
Her next hearing is scheduled for Oct. 18.
tbrown@durangoherald.com
