Carthage woman charged with felony DWI in fatal accident, says she had three vodka shots, fell asleep behind wheel

A Carthage woman charged with felony driving while intoxicated in connection with a fatal head-on crash 7:13 a.m.Tuesday on MO 43, one mile north of Southwest City, told a Highway Patrol trooper she fell asleep “and when she opened her eyes she was turning around.”

According to the probable cause statement, Idania J. Monterroso Ortiz, 21, told the trooper she had three shots of Pink Whitney Vodka around 10 p.m., went to bed at 2 a.m. and woke up at 4:30 a.m. to go to work. A blood alcohol test showed .104 percent, while a second one showed .105 percent.

The Highway Patrol report indicated Monterroso Ortiz, driving a 2018 Honda Pilot, crossed the center line and struck a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu driven by Irwin W. Roach, 47, Afton, Oklahoma head on. Roach was pronounced dead at 9:17 a.m.

Monterroso Ortiz, who was treated for minor injuries at Integris Grove Hospital, Grove, Oklahoma, was also cited for careless and imprudent driving.

The McDonald County Prosecuting Attorney’s office filed the charge today.

Originally appeared on The Turner Report

For more coverage of southwest Missouri and former Carthage Press Managing Editor Randy Turner’s daily column, sign up for the Turner Report Newsletter by e-mailing rturner229@hotmail.com.

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