published: Friday, June 26, 2009

High on meth, driver detained by crowd

MILLARD K. IVES

Staff Writer

CLERMONT -- A motorist who allegedly drove down the wrong side of the road, running other vehicles off the road and striking two others, didn't get very far Thursday night.

When Clermont police officers arrived at the scene, they found Jennifer Lee Hilpert face down on the ground, being detained by a crowd.

According to an arrest affidavit, Hilpert had struck two vehicles on East Avenue and State Road 50 sometime before 6 p.m., and kept driving. However, the heavy damage to her silver Pontiac eventually caused the vehicle to stop.

She then fled on foot.

The affidavit adds that witnesses to the crash had followed the driver and held her until law enforcement arrived. The witnesses added she had been driving in a reckless manner, swerving and running other vehicles off the road and driving on the wrong side of the road.

According to the affidavit, when Clermont police reached the scene, Hilpert was extremely agitated and kept repeating how high she was.

She added she had ingested 13 grams of methamphetamine, better known as meth. Officers said they discovered meth in her vehicle.

Hilpert, 32, was taken to the hospital before being jailed on a number of charges, including driving under the influence, reckless driving, leaving the scene with injuries and property damage, driving with license suspended or revoked, and possession of meth.

All the vehicles from the crash had to be towed from the scene. It is not clear if occupants of the other vehicles were injured. However, Hilpert told paramedics at the scene that she was so high, she couldn't tell if she was hurt.