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PLACERVILLE - El Dorado County Supervisor Helen Bau mann was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol after she crashed her car Friday night, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Baumann, who has retained legal counsel, issued a statement that read: "While there remain many unanswered questions and my attorney has advised me not to comment, I am extremely concerned and want to apologize for the strain and disruption the situation has caused our law enforcement and emergency services."
The 56-year-old supervisor from Somerset was southbound at 11:30 p.m. on Latrobe Road about 1.3 miles south of Highway 50 at an unknown speed Friday when she lost control of her 2008 Toyota Avalon, made an unsafe turning movement across the opposing lane of traffic and drove off the side of the road down an embankment, said CHP Officer Mike Schultz. She apparently then drove through a barbed-wire fence into a field and broke through another barbed-wire fence heading back toward the roadway, Schultz said. Her vehicle finally came to rest on the opposite embankment when she crossed both lanes of traffic on Latrobe Road, the officer added.
No other vehicles were involved in the wreck. CHP officers responded to the scene when someone heard the crash and called 911.
Baumann, who reportedly was not injured in the incident, was "advised of her arrest" on suspicion of DUI, then transported by ambulance to Mercy Hospital in Folsom after she became ill, Schultz said.
The CHP should wrap up its report later this week and then will forward the case to the El Dorado County District Attorney's Office for review. District Attorney Vern Pierson said Tuesday that he hadn't seen anything related to the incident. Because the DA's office works so closely with the Board of Supervisors, Pierson said, "Typically, (the case) would be referred to the state attorney general's office."
Bill Clark with the DA's office said he spoke with someone in the attorney general's office about handling the case, and that person indicated that the attorney general wouldn't take over.
"If they don't take it, (the case) comes back to us," Clark said.
Baumann, who has retained legal counsel, issued a statement that read: "While there remain many unanswered questions and my attorney has advised me not to comment, I am extremely concerned and want to apologize for the strain and disruption the situation has caused our law enforcement and emergency services."
The 56-year-old supervisor from Somerset was southbound at 11:30 p.m. on Latrobe Road about 1.3 miles south of Highway 50 at an unknown speed Friday when she lost control of her 2008 Toyota Avalon, made an unsafe turning movement across the opposing lane of traffic and drove off the side of the road down an embankment, said CHP Officer Mike Schultz. She apparently then drove through a barbed-wire fence into a field and broke through another barbed-wire fence heading back toward the roadway, Schultz said. Her vehicle finally came to rest on the opposite embankment when she crossed both lanes of traffic on Latrobe Road, the officer added.
No other vehicles were involved in the wreck. CHP officers responded to the scene when someone heard the crash and called 911.
Baumann, who reportedly was not injured in the incident, was "advised of her arrest" on suspicion of DUI, then transported by ambulance to Mercy Hospital in Folsom after she became ill, Schultz said.
The CHP should wrap up its report later this week and then will forward the case to the El Dorado County District Attorney's Office for review. District Attorney Vern Pierson said Tuesday that he hadn't seen anything related to the incident. Because the DA's office works so closely with the Board of Supervisors, Pierson said, "Typically, (the case) would be referred to the state attorney general's office."
Bill Clark with the DA's office said he spoke with someone in the attorney general's office about handling the case, and that person indicated that the attorney general wouldn't take over.
"If they don't take it, (the case) comes back to us," Clark said.
