Crime & Safety

Woman Pleads Innocent to OUI Charges in Essex Crash

A Lynn woman registered a blood-alcohol content of 0.13 percent after the crash, which resulted in injuries.

 

A Lynn woman who on Wednesday was involved in an accident with injuries, including those to a young child, denied drug and drunk driving charges in court Thursday morning.

Dana Hartigan, 47, of 32 Everett St., Lynn pleaded innocent in Lynn District Court to charges of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, three counts of possession of a Class E substance (Klonopin), unlicensed operation and negligent operation of a motor vehicle.

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According to a report filed by Officer Brendan Reen, at 1 p.m., police responded to the intersection of Essex Street and Boulder Way for a report of a head-on motor vehicle crash involving three vehicles, including a taxi cab.

Responding officers reportedly found Hartigan outside of her vehicle crying and noticed a "strong smell of alcoholic beverage" coming from her. Although she told police her husband was driving and had left the scene of the accident, police determined she was driving after speaking with witnesses.

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Hartigan was reportedly taken by ambulance to North Shore Medical Center, where she was treated for injuries sustained in the crash. A blood test administered at the hospital, police said, registered a 0.13 and Hartigan was charged with operating under the influence.

Hartigan reportedly told police that she was upset because she had been at Lynn Juvenile Court earlier in the day for a CHINS hearing with her 15-year-old daughter.

Hartigan told police that after leaving court she went home and drank two nips of root beer flavored schnapps before going to Bertucci's and consuming "a couple of glasses of wine."

After being treated at the hospital, Hartigan was taken back to the for booking where officers discovered her license had expired. During the booking process, police reportedly discovered three small green pills in the bottom of her purse, which were later determined to be Klonopin.

Hartigan was released on her own recognizance on the condition that she not operate a motor vehicle.

She was ordered to return to court on March 1 for a pretrial hearing.


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