BUCKHANNON – An Upshur County woman was arrested for allegedly injuring a juvenile when driving under the influence.
Elizabeth A. Marks, 32, of French Creek, was arrested for DUI with bodily injury, a felony.
According to the criminal complaint in the Upshur County Magistrate Clerk’s Office filed by Trooper First Class F.J. Turansky with the Buckhannon detachment of the West Virginia State Police, on Wednesday, Feb. 1, Turansky was dispatched to a motor vehicle accident on Sago Road.
Upon arrival, Turansky observed Marks sitting in the rear of a vehicle and an eight-year-old juvenile sitting in the front seat. Turansky saw what appeared to be blood on the minor’s face, according to the police report. Marks told law enforcement officers she had been driving the vehicle when it crashed into a guardrail. She also told police a man had assisted her by pulling her vehicle across the roadway and into a neighboring driveway with his truck.
While obtaining her statement, Turansky noticed Marks appeared to be lethargic and disoriented, according to the police report. When asked if she was under the influence of drugs, Marks allegedly admitted to drinking half of a beer earlier in the day. Marks and the juvenile were both transported to St. Joseph’s Hospital for medical treatment.
Through his investigation, Turansky determined the juvenile had allegedly been sitting in the front seat with no seatbelt on at the time of the crash, and that Marks was also allegedly operating a motor vehicle on a public highway within the state of West Virginia with no insurance, according to the file.
On a later date, Turansky obtained a search warrant to gain access to Marks’s medical records. After obtaining Marks’ laboratory results, Turansky determined that at the time of the crash, Marks was under the influence of amphetamines, Fentanyl and carbenoids.
Upshur County Magistrate Alan Suder set bail at $25,000 cash only, and Marks remained incarcerated as of Thursday evening.
The potential penalty for DUI with bodily injury is confinement in the state penitentiary for not less than two years and not more than 10 years; a fine of not less than $1,000 and not more than $3,000; and revocation of the person’s license to operate a motor vehicle for a period of five years or for a period of time conditioned on participation in the test-and-lock program.
