A Rochester woman is in serious condition this morning after the vehicle she was riding in missed a corner, ran down a creek embankment and struck a concrete bridge support Thursday night.
The 22-year-old sustained "significant" facial injuries and was complaining of back pain after hitting the windshield during the crash, said Capt. John Sherwin. She was taken by ambulance to Mayo Clinic Hospital — Saint Marys Campus.
The driver, a 21-year-old Byron woman, was arrested at the scene on suspicion of criminal vehicular operation. The crash was reported at 10:45 p.m. Thursday.
According to a witness, the vehicle was southbound on 11th Avenue Southeast at a high rate of speed when it failed to negotiate the left turn onto 8 1/2 Street and went down the embankment of Bear Creek. Initial reports were that the car had actually crashed into the water, but instead struck the support.
A search warrant was obtained for a sample of the driver's blood because of the nature of the crash, Sherwin said. The woman was also allegedly driving with a suspended license, and had prescription medication that she hadn't gotten from a physician, the report says.
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Additional charges of DUI and controlled substance crimes are possible, Sherwin said.
The Post-Bulletin typically doesn't identify suspects until they've been charged.
