DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — A Florida woman’s alleged drunken driving spree took a bizarre turn after she crashed her Ford Bronco into a parked car, became involved in a physical confrontation with the vehicle’s owner and then pleaded with police not to take her to jail because she thought they were all friends.
Elizabeth Boucher, 24, is accused of driving under the influence during the Aug. 30 crash in Daytona Beach, according to police.
Home security footage released by authorities shows the Ford Bronco traveling through a roundabout before leaving its path and plowing into a parked Honda outside a home.
The impact was forceful enough to send broken glass into the air while the larger Bronco pushed the smaller sedan across the front lawn.
Despite the collision, Boucher allegedly continued pressing the accelerator. The Bronco’s rear tires spun while dirt was thrown into the air, even though the damaged Honda had stopped the vehicle from moving farther.
Crash Leads to Physical Altercation
The owner of the Honda was not inside her vehicle when the crash happened. After a neighbor alerted her to what had occurred, the woman rushed outside to see the damage. That encounter allegedly turned into a confrontation with Boucher.
The unidentified woman told police that Boucher came toward her and got directly in her face before allegedly striking her.
“She came at me and she was like in my face. She smacked me right here,” the woman said, showing officers where she was allegedly hit.
According to an arrest affidavit, the woman then allegedly struck Boucher back, causing the driver to fall to the ground.
Boucher is accused of following the woman toward her front door, where she was allegedly shoved again before police arrived.
Police Say Driver Showed Signs of Intoxication
When officers arrived, Boucher allegedly displayed several signs that led them to suspect she was intoxicated.
Police said she had difficulty standing and appeared confused during their interaction. At one point, when an officer asked for her driver’s license, Boucher allegedly handed over a passport instead.
When asked again for her license, she reportedly handed officers her purse. Boucher also allegedly said she was “hot” while attempting to get into a police vehicle.
Her statements to officers added to the confusion surrounding the incident. She reportedly pleaded with police, saying, “Please don’t take me to jail over this. I thought we were all friends.”
She also allegedly told officers she was “never going to get pulled over again,” even though police explained that they were investigating a crash rather than a traffic stop.
Driver Allegedly Refuses DUI Testing
Boucher reportedly gave officers only a vague account of what happened.
“I guess I hit the front right of their car,” she allegedly told an officer. “But I don’t know what really happened.”
Police told her that her description did not match the damage they had observed.
“You didn’t just hit the front of the car, you took the car completely off,” an officer told her.
Man Accused of Sneaking Into Co-Worker’s Home and Waiting in Garage to Confront Them
Officers then told Boucher they suspected she was under the influence and not in a condition to drive. When police asked whether she would participate in a sobriety exercise, Boucher allegedly refused and attempted to walk away.
Officers then grabbed and handcuffed her. She continued refusing tests, including providing a breath sample, according to the report.
Multiple Charges Filed After Daytona Beach Crash
While in handcuffs, Boucher also told officers that she was a mother and needed to make sure her daughter received something she needed.
“I’m not resisting arrest; I just wanna make sure my daughter gets what she needs,” she said, according to the video.
Boucher was ultimately charged with DUI, DUI damage of property, refusal to submit to DUI testing, resisting arrest without violence, possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, and touch or strike.
She was booked into jail and released on Aug. 31. Boucher is expected to return to court on Oct. 21 as the case moves forward. The allegations remain accusations, and the court proceedings will determine the outcome of the charges.
What do you think about the bizarre chain of events that followed this Florida crash? Share your thoughts in the comments.
