DUI includes a fleeing white Bronco, urination in a patrol car, and tequila, police say

Claiming to be leaving a party in Philadelphia, one Maryland woman who was reportedly sleeping behind the wheel at one point was arrested for driving while intoxicated by Lower Merion Township authorities, police said.

According to the affidavit of probable cause by Lower Merion Police, Christina Frances Kimble, 38, of the 5600 block of Woodland Drive in Forest Heights, Md., was behind the wheel of a white Ford Bronco around 11:14 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 1 in the area of West City and Bryn Mawr avenues in the Bala Cynwyd section of Lower Merion Township. Another driver reported the car as suspicious, stating that the driver appeared to be asleep.

Police said that, upon arrival, they located the Bronco just south of a marked stop line on West City Avenue, in the southbound passing (left) lane with its driver’s door ajar. Police approached the vehicle with hazard and overhead emergency lights and sirens on, but when exiting a marked patrol car, police said the operator shut the door to the Bronco and fled the scene, traveling south of West City Avenue at a “high rate of speed.”

Police followed the Bronco, observing the driver swerving into the southbound curb lane, said police. The SUV then pulled into the 7-11 parking lot at 169 W. City Ave. in Bala Cynwyd, police said.

Responding officers said that the Bronco, which had Maryland license plates matching the caller’s report, was now diagonally stopped in a marked handicapped parking stall. At that time, police said that the driver’s side door opened and Kimble exited the vehicle. Police said she began shouting that “she had to use the restroom.”

Upon questioning, police said Kimble was “unable to explain why others believed she was asleep behind the wheel.” When asked where she was coming from, police said Kimble stated she left a party “somewhere in Philadelphia” and was attempting to drive back to Maryland. Police said Kimble reported having had “two or three” shooters of tequila.

Police said that, as she spoke, they observed that Kimble’s speech was slurred, that she had “difficulty understanding the questions he was asking.” Police reported that her eyes were red and gloss, and that they detected “an odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from her person and the vehicle.” Additionally, police said that Kimble disregarded commands when advised not to make any phone calls.

After their observations, police said they requested Kimble attempt Standardized Field Sobriety Tests, to which she agreed. Police said Kimble “did not complete the tests in a satisfactory manner,” according to the affidavit. Kimble was placed under arrest for suspicion of driving under the influence, police said.

Police said that, prior to having Kimble’s vehicle towed from the 7-11, they discovered an empty “airplane bottle” of Jameson Irish Whiskey in the center console of the Bronco, as well as a Espolon Reposado tequila bottle in the front passenger seat that “had approximately one quarter of its original contents remaining.”

Kimble was transferred to Lankenau Hospital for a blood withdrawal for testing. Police said that, while en route, Kimble urinated through her clothing in the backseat of the patrol car. Upon arrival, she consented and had blood drawn around 11:55 p.m., police said.

Police said that they then awaited a “responsible party” to arrive to release Kimble, but that she became “increasingly agitated and aggressive,” causing police to place her in restraining handcuffs, linking each hand to a hospital bed rail.

“She continued to slide herself off the bed, and while we attempted to assist her back into the bed to prevent her from injuring her wrists, she deliberately kicked [an officer] twice in the chest,” said the affidavit. Police said Kimble lost her balance, taking a step backward, and also “deliberately kicked” another sergeant in the torso.

Kimble is facing felony charges for assault of a law enforcement officer, misdemeanor charges of simple assault and DUI, along with related summary offenses. She is awaiting a preliminary hearing scheduled for Dec. 17 at 10:15 a.m. before Magisterial District Justice Karen Eisner Zucker.