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A Goshen woman has pled guilty to six criminal charges after driving under the influence and hitting a horse and buggy, resulting in injuries to four people.
Jakaila Marlyne Miracle, 25, of 508 Cross St., Goshen, pled guilty to failure to remain at the scene of an accident resulting in serious bodily injury, a level 3 felony; three counts of causing serious bodily injury when operating a vehicle while intoxicated, all level 5 felonies; and battery by bodily waste and battery against a public safety official, both level 6 felonies. Three additional charges will be dismissed as part of Miracle's plea agreement.
Miracle pled guilty to the charges in Kosciusko Superior Court III on Tuesday, Sept. 22.
The plea agreement states Miracle's initial executed sentence will not exceed 10 years. Five of Miracle's charges will be served back-to-back to each other, with the sixth charge to be served at the same time. The court has discretion on the amount of time Miracle's driving privileges are suspended for.
Sentencing is set for 10:45 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 13.
Affidavit Of Probable Cause
On May 29, a Kosciusko County Sheriff's Office deputy responded to a report of a horse and buggy being hit by a vehicle on Ind. 19, south of Nappanee. The vehicle's driver left the scene. Multiple people were in the buggy at the time of the accident and were injured.
About 20 minutes after the accident occurred, 911 dispatch received a call about a Ford Fusion driving eastbound in the westbound lanes of U.S. 30, in the area of CR 800W, Etna Green. A Warsaw Police officer located the vehicle near CR 350W and identified Miracle as its driver. The vehicle also had significant damage to its passenger side.
Miracle denied being in an accident and said she hit a deer several weeks ago. Officers noticed Miracle was slurring her words and asked if she had consumed alcohol. Miracle denied drinking and said she just got off work.
On a poor sample for a portable breath test, Miracle's results were 0.14% BrAC. Law enforcement also located alcoholic beverages inside Miracle's vehicle.
While at a local hospital for a chemical test, Miracle splashed urine around a hospital room and onto a deputy. Miracle continued to be uncooperative as she was escorted to a bathroom, hitting a deputy in the chest area.
