By BILL POWELL
Herald Staff Writer

IRELAND — An impaired driver was transferred to an Evansville hospital after crashing her car west of Ireland Thursday night.

Jessica L. Pelt, 33, of 268 41st St., was eastbound on State Road 56 in a 2003 Lincoln passenger car when the 10:35 p.m. accident occurred near County Road 800W, according to the Dubois County Sheriff’s Department.

A witness told deputies Pelt’s car left the roadway just west of County Road 800W, ran over a speed limit sign and stopped in an open field.

Pelt sustained a head injury and was taken to Memorial Hospital in Jasper before being transferred to St. Mary’s Medical Center in Evansville.

A subsequent drug screen found marijuana and methamphetamine in Pelt’s system and determined her blood alcohol content to be .08 percent. Police said she will be summoned to court for operating while intoxicated and she also will be cited for driving on a suspended license.

Total damage to the car and the speed limit sign owned by the Indiana Department of Transportation was estimated at between $2,500 and $5,000.

The Ireland Volunteer Fire Department, a Bob Luegers wrecker and Memorial Hospital Emergency Medical Services assisted.

Contact Bill Powell at bpowell@dcherald.com