Drunk Driver Horrifies Onlookers In Stafford: Police

STAFFORD, VA—An extremely inebriated driver was arrested Saturday after careening through Stafford Marketplace and then crashing through a fence at Moncure Elementary School, according to the Stafford County Sheriff's Office. Sherry Fitzgerald, 51, of Stafford, was charged with driving under the influence, hit and run, destruction of property and a traffic violation.

Around 7:30 p.m., police responded to reports of a drunk driver at a Wendy's restaurant on Garrisonville Road. According to a witness, Fitzgerald crashed into an unoccupied vehicle and a light pole, leaving her front license plate embedded in the pole. Another witness saw her drive over the curb onto Garrisonville Road, nearly hitting several vehicles head-on. The witness began following her, and watched her go over the concrete median across traffic and into the Stafford Marketplace entrance.

Fitzgerald then drove recklessly through Stafford Marketplace, almost hitting several vehicles before crashing into the brick wall of Bed, Bath and Beyond. With her front end heavily damaged, she backed up and hit a sign, a metal bench and a large flower pot before speeding away toward Lowe's.

She then crossed Staffordboro Boulevard into a commuter lot and then toward the closed bus gate entrance to Moncure Elementary. (All the while, police were receiving numerous complaints about the incident). She drove through the gate and attached fence before stopping in the grass near the playground. She then restarted the vehicle, which began spinning in the grass before crashing into a large boulder in the center of a bus turnaround lane.

That's when police arrived. The vehicle was heavily damaged, and all the air bags had deployed. Fitzgerald then put the vehicle in reverse and tried to drive out of the mud. The officer ran to the vehicle and ordered her to turn it off, which she did with his assistance.

While escorting Fitzgerald to his cruiser, she was unsteady on her feet and fell down several times. Field sobriety tests were conducted, and she admitted to drinking alcohol, taking prescription drugs not prescribed to her, as well as multiple over-the-counter drugs.

Photo: Stafford County Sheriff's Office