Petaluma Police say a woman arrested for suspicion of felony drunken driving reportedly fell down trying to get into her car at a local pizza parlor before driving off and causing a collision just three blocks away.
Police estimated Ambu Lara Ford?s blood-alcohol level at six times the legal limit after she downed a drink in the Round Table Pizza parking lot Tuesday evening and collided with two cars on East Washington Street.
A woman who saw Ford, 40, finish her drink and then fall to the ground before climbing into her Honda Accord tried to convince her not to drive, without success, police said.
The woman?s cell phone call to the CHP was being routed to police when numerous other 911 callers reported the ensuing 7:44 p.m. crash, police said.
Authorities say Ford, a Petaluma resident, was at East Washington Street and Sonoma Mountain Parkway when she drove into the rear of two cars stopped for a red light.
One other driver was treated for injuries at a local hospital, and then released, police said.
Ford was admitted to the hospital because of her high level of intoxication, police said.
Preliminary tests indicated her blood-alcohol level was 0.50 percent - more than six times the 0.08 percent level at which it is illegal to drive in California, police said.
She was arrested for suspicion of felony drunken driving and cited to appear in court, rather than going to jail, because she was hospitalized, police said.
The case remains under investigation, police said.
UPDATED: Please read and follow our commenting policy: