When two passing drivers saw a car, still running, partially on and off a rural Greene County road this spring, they both stopped to check on the driver. They called 911 to report she was unresponsive but still breathing.

Greene County Sheriff’s Deputy Alan Jackson and Deputy Bobby Pierce responded. Late Wednesday afternoon, she was in court to plead guilty to operating a vehicle while intoxicated.

Kayla Jo Pirtle, 30, of Carlisle, Ind. was initially charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated, a Class C misdemeanor, and operating a vehicle with an alcohol concentration equivalent to .15 or more, a Class A misdemeanor.

GCSD Deputy Jackson, along with Deputy Pierce, arrived on the scene on West County Road 425 South and CR 1575 West around 4:10 a.m. on Wednesday, April 18. She was still behind the wheel, then exited the car.

Jackson said Pirtle was failing standard field sobriety testing and was staggering so the officers stopped testing due to the risk of a fall. She was transported to the safer environment of the sheriff’s department, where she again failed field tests.

A chemical test, administered by Pierce, showed she had a blood alcohol concentration of .254, more than three times over the legal limit of .08.

Pirtle was arrested, then bonded out after an appearance in court.

In mid-May, a negotiated plea agreement was signed by Pirtle, her Defense Attorney Douglas Followell and Greene County Deputy Prosecutor Cheryl Jackson Stone.

In Greene Superior Court Wednesday afternoon, the first count was dismissed and Pirtle pleaded guilty to the Class A misdemeanor operating a vehicle with an ACE of at least .15.

She was sentenced to one year in the Greene County Jail with all but five days suspended. She was given credit for five days served. She’s ordered to pay a fine and court costs. She’ll be on probation for 360 days and must complete a drug and alcohol evaluation and any treatment deemed appropriate. Her driver’s license will be suspended for 180 days.