By Staff Reporter
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – In a recent development, 35-year-old Tabitha Page Ashby was taken into custody on Wednesday, facing charges of driving under the influence (DUI) resulting in serious bodily injury. This arrest follows a detailed investigation into multiple collisions that occurred on January 7.
The series of incidents began around 7 p.m. on January 7, when officers from the Gainesville Police Department responded to a severe head-on collision in the 400 block of NW 53rd Avenue. Upon arrival, they found both vehicles heavily damaged, requiring emergency crews to extricate Ashby and the other driver. The latter sustained significant injuries to his legs and hip and was rushed to the hospital under a trauma alert. Medical personnel on-site indicated that a leg amputation might be necessary.
During the investigation, officers detected the scent of alcohol emanating from Ashby’s vehicle. Inside, they reportedly discovered a wine bottle and a beer can, further raising suspicions of alcohol involvement.
At the hospital, officers encountered Ashby insisting she was “fine” and expressing a desire to leave. Observations by officers noted her speech was slurred, and a subsequent blood test revealed an ethyl alcohol level of 351.0, indicating significant intoxication.
While speaking with an officer in the intensive care unit, Ashby recounted remembering only being at an intersection before the collision occurred. After being read her Miranda rights, she denied consuming any alcohol, stating she had just left a residence in Lacrosse and was heading toward High Springs on CR 236. However, the crash actually took place on NW 53rd Avenue, just east of NW 13th Street, contradicting her account.
An officer reported that Ashby appeared to be impaired, based on observations of her behavior.
GPD’s investigation found that Ashby had visited the Sunoco at 4207 NW 13th Street before the crash, and she was reportedly unsteady on her feet and knocking items off shelves as she tried to purchase more alcohol; she tried three payment methods but was reportedly unsuccessful, and she left the store, driving eastbound in a white Kia Soul on NW 42nd Avenue at about 5:44 p.m.
At about 6:30 p.m., a crash was reported at NW 13th Street and NW 16th Avenue, with a white Kia Soul rear-ending a pickup truck. The Soul backed up, and the hood released in the raised position before the Soul left the scene, driving northbound on NW 13th Street without checking whether the other driver needed assistance or leaving any information.
At about that time, multiple 911 calls were received about a white vehicle driving recklessly northbound on NW 13th Street with the hood up. A witness reported that the car turned eastbound on NW 53rd Avenue and almost hit three other vehicles before driving into oncoming traffic, yanking the steering wheel several times, and hitting the victim’s vehicle almost head-on.
The victim in the second crash reportedly suffered a broken leg, broken pelvis, and damage to internal organs that required multiple surgeries.
Ashby, whose address is listed in Alachua but reportedly told Court Services that she has only been in Alachua County for eight days, has been charged with driving under the influence with serious bodily injury. She has five misdemeanor convictions (one violent). Judge Jonathan Ramsey set bail at $80,000 and ordered Court Services to fit her with a transdermal alcohol monitor before she is released from jail.
Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
