DUI Driver Kills Unlikely Victims

It is not unusual to hear of people driving while intoxicated. It is also not unheard of for people to flee the scene of an accident for one reason or another. What does tend to make news is when the accident is a bit unusual.

According to reports, Lynn Ann Michel, 47, was driving westbound on Rio Grande County Road 8 South. Michel somehow ran into a herd of sheep, killing 38 and injuring 12 more. The woman fled the scene of the accident, but was eventually found by troopers.

State police say that the troopers were able to track the woman down because her front license plate was found at the scene of the accident. Once located, the woman was arrested and charged with driving under the influence. She was also charged with failure to remain at the scene of a crash involving property damage and driving without insurance. Michel was transported to the police department and later released on a summons.

As of this writing, reports indicate that four more sheep have died, bringing the total number killed in the accident to 42. Police are unsure how Michel’s vehicle was able to keep traveling after hitting so many animals, but they do say that there were no skid marks at the scene, indicating that Michel did not try to stop.

Michel’s court date was not immediately released, but she will be required to answer for her charges in the near future. Whether or not she will be sued civilly for the loss of the livestock will be at the discretion of the sheep’s owner and their attorney.