ATHOL — A local woman faces charges of negligence and operating under the influence of several medications after allegedly narrowly missing several people while driving on Lincoln Avenue.
Jessica C. Thibeault, 30, of 381 Twichell St. pleaded innocent at her arraignment Monday in Orange District Court.
Police were called to Lincoln Avenue at 4:29 p.m. Friday by a witness reporting that a car had driven onto the sidewalk within feet of her and two others, including a child. Athol officer Peter Buck wrote in his report that he arrived to find a blue Chevrolet Impala parked with the passenger side wheels on the sidewalk, one tire flat.
Buck wrote that Thibeault, the driver, was unsteady on her feet, with constricted pupils and slow speech. Thibeault allegedly told Buck she had taken a Flexeril, a Tylenol PM sleeping pill, and two lorazepam Thursday night. Buck, who noted that he is a drug recognition expert and trainer, administered field sobriety tests and arrested Thibeault based on the results. After her arrest, Thibeault declined a urine test, allegedly telling police it would show heroin on top of the over-the-counter and prescription medications.