Drunk Driver Thought Pedestrians She Hit Were Trash Cans

WASHINGTON TWP. (WWJ) - A 21-year-old drunk driver who was arrested after hitting three people with her Jeep told police she thought they were trash cans.

Andrea Gutierrez, of Clarkston, was arraigned Tuesday in the 42nd District Court of Romeo on one count of operating while intoxicated -- second offense, and two counts of operating while intoxicated causing serious injury. She was released after posting a $10,000 cash surety bond.

Police said the accident happened around 7:20 a.m. Sunday on Brookside Lane in Washington Township. When deputies arrived on the scene, they found three injured pedestrians who had been hit by a white Jeep Liberty driven by Gutierrez.

According to the Macomb County Sheriff's Office, Gutierrez told deputies she was driving east on Brookside Lane into bright sunlight when she hit something, which she assumed were trash cans. Gutierrez said she stopped the car to investigate further, when she realized that she had actually struck people, police said.

The injured include a 61-year-old man and his 59-year-old wife, along with a 77-year-old man, all from Washington Township. All three were transported to a local hospital for serious injuries. Updates on their conditions weren't immediately available.

After talking to Gutierrez and another passenger in her Jeep, deputies determined that she was intoxicated and placed her under arrest. Her vehicle was also impounded.

Once Gutierrez arrived at the Macomb County Jail, she was given a breathalyzer test which registered her blood alcohol content at .12 percent. The legal limit in Michigan is .08.

Police said Gutierrez has one previous conviction of operating while intoxicated.