A Worthington woman, hospitalized after she was found passed out behind the wheel of her car in a ditch, was later charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated after a toxicology report showed she had been driving with an alcohol concentration of .296.

Tammy J. Carrell-Rush, 54, Worthington, 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 operating a vehicle with an alcohol concentration equivalent to .15 or more - a Class A misdemeanor, when she appeared in Greene Superior Court for an initial hearing last Thursday, September 13.

Greene County Sheriff’s Deputy David Elmore reported Carrell-Rush was the driver of a green 1996 Mercury Sable passenger car that wound up in a ditch on July 22.

Elmore was dispatched to investigate after two women brought Carrell-Rush to Greene County General Hospital and hospital personnel contacted police.

The two women told Elmore they were passing by on County Road 400 North off Lone Tree Road (County Road 1000 West) when they saw the Mercury off the road in the ditch and stopped to check on the driver. They said Carrell-Rush was passed out behind the wheel and the window was down, letting rain in. They said they helped her out of the car and into their vehicle then drove her to the hospital.

Elmore said when he arrived at the hospital, Carrell-Rush was sitting inside, seemed confused and had a hard time remembering what had happened but she agreed to be seen by a doctor and take a chemical test.

The deputy then traveled to the location of her vehicle, found it in a ditch and called for a tow truck.

When he returned to the hospital, a doctor told him Carrell-Rush was going to be treated and tested for an extended period of time.

Elmore then requested a subpoena to obtain results of toxicology blood work.

Elmore said when the report was received on August 3, test results showed she had an alcohol concentration of .296. The legal limit is .08.

The Greene County Prosecutor’s Office filed a case against Carrell-Rush on August 10 and a summons was issued ordering Carrell-Rush to appear in court on September 13.