Woman pleads not guilty after crash
LIBERTY — An Austintown woman pleaded not guilty at her arraignment Wednesday after causing a head-on collision.
Autumn Currence, 30, was cited for OVI and operation without reasonable control for the accident, which occurred on West Liberty Street. She is set to appear in court May 7.
According to the police report, officers made contact with Currence, whose Kia Sportage sustained “significant” front-bumper damage, and noted she spoke erratically and had pinpoint pupils. The other driver, who was in a Pontiac Montana, was taken to Mercy Health St. Elizabeth Hospital Youngstown for further evaluation and treatment.
A witness who followed Currence down Churchill Road explained to officers that she saw Currence swerve several times and that she was spontaneously accelerating “real quick.” When the witness reached for her phone to report an erratic driver, Currence crossed the center line into oncoming traffic and collided with the Pontiac.
The witness was not involved in the accident, however.
The witness also told officers Currence’s eyes appeared closed during the collision.
Officers asked Currence to submit to a field sobriety test, which she struggled to complete, and she was arrested soon afterward.
While at Liberty Police Department, Currence told officers she still consumes fentanyl “every now and then” and that she had taken valium a few days ago, adding that she snorted both drugs.