A car crashed into a house last Tuesday in the Solsberry area, causing significant damage. The driver did not have a valid driver’s license and has never had a valid driver’s license. The car had a fictitious license plate. The driver showed signs of impairment, was taken to jail and has been charged with OVWI.

Heather Jean McClary, 34, Bloomington, was arrested by Deputy Michael Stanley of the Greene County Sheriff’s Department last Tuesday, December 8, following a car crash.

Deputy Stanley, the investigating officer, responded along with Deputies Jordan Allor and Michael Coy to a residence at 2606 North State Road 45, Solsberry, where a car had crashed into a house at approximately 3:14 p.m., Tuesday, December 8.

Photo courtesy of Center-Jackson Fire Territory

The car was a white 2007 Nissan Murano. Heather Jean McClary was the driver.

On the scene, the license plate of the Nissan was on the rear hatch door which was fully extended and obstructed by the overhang of the residence so the deputies were unable to immediately view the license plate number.

In addition, the Center-Jackson Fire Territory personnel advised the deputies to keep everybody out and away from the site until REMC could arrive and determine if the scene was safe. Deputy Stanley said the deputies and all other individuals on the scene were advised to refrain from walking in the area around the vehicle due to the unstable structure being supported by the vehicle.

Deputy Stanley said when he talked to the driver, McClary, she told him she was southbound on SR 45 when the driver’s side front tire’s wheel bearing broke and she lost control of the vehicle and crashed into the side of the residence. She also said the vehicle was not insured and she produced a title which showed the car was registered to another person.

When asked for identification, McClary produced a state identification card and allegedly said her license was suspended. Later on during an interview at the sheriff’s department, McClary admitted that she had never possessed a valid driver’s license.

McClary declined medical attention on the scene except for a band-aid for a cut on a finger.

The property owner was on the scene and Deputy Stanley advised him that the driver was uninsured.

Deputy Stanley also talked to the resident who was living in the house and was there when the crash took place. The resident said at the time of the crash, nobody was in the part of the house that was hit.

The resident also said when he went to check on the driver, McClary was verbally aggressive toward him and he overheard her talking on her phone saying she was going to be in trouble since she has so much “stuff” on her. Deputy Stanley noted that McClary was in possession of small bottles of liquor.

Standard field sobriety tests were conducted by Deputy Allor on the scene and he reported she failed three out of the four and that she tested at .057 on a portable breath test. Deputy Stanley reported McClary showed other signs of impairment including fast speech, red eyes, poor dexterity and poor balance.

McClary was transported to the sheriff’s department where she was given another round of sobriety tests, with the same result. She agreed to a chemical test/blood draw and was transported to Greene County General Hospital where a blood draw was taken – results pending.

McClary was then booked into the Greene County Jail at 6:41 p.m. Her bond was set at $4,000 surety with ten percent cash allowed.

The next day, Wednesday, December 9, when deputies were able to check the license plate on the vehicle and the vehicle identification number, they found the plate on the vehicle was false/fictitious.

At some point after her arrest, McClary posted $400 and was released from jail.

Earlier today, McClary appeared in Greene Superior Court for an initial hearing. A public defender was appointed to represent her and she was formally charged with:

Operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangering a person, a Class A misdemeanor,
Operating a vehicle while intoxicated, a Class C misdemeanor, and
Knowingly or intentionally operating a motor vehicle without ever receiving a license, a Class C misdemeanor.