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Marathon Woman Jailed After DUI Hit-and-Run, Chase, and Second Crash, Deputies Say
Riley Wieller, 24, is accused of striking an occupied vehicle on U.S. 1 early Sunday, fleeing deputies down Sombrero Beach Road, and crashing into a retention wall near Sister's Creek before trying to run from arrest.
MARATHON, Fla. â A 24-year-old Marathon woman remained jailed without bond Sunday afternoon after authorities said she struck an occupied vehicle on U.S. 1, fled from sheriff's deputies, and then crashed again before attempting to run from arrest, all while impaired.
Riley Wieller was arrested on charges including driving under the influence, hit-and-run, fleeing and eluding, and resisting arrest, according to the Monroe County Sheriff's Office.
The episode began just after 3:10 a.m. Sunday when Wieller's vehicle collided with another occupied vehicle near 39th Street and U.S. 1, the sheriff's office said. She left the scene without stopping, authorities said.
Deputies spotted her SUV a short time later and attempted a traffic stop, but she refused to pull over, according to Becky Herrin, a sheriff's office spokesperson. Wieller fled down Sombrero Beach Road, where she crashed into a retention wall near Sister's Creek, Herrin said.
After the second crash, Wieller jumped out of the vehicle and tried to run away, resisting arrest, according to Herrin.
Jail records showed Wieller was being held at the sheriff's Key West detention facility as of Sunday afternoon with no bond listed. It was not immediately clear whether she had an attorney.
The case highlights the dangers of impaired driving on the Overseas Highway corridor, where U.S. 1 serves as the lone main artery through the Florida Keys. Hit-and-run crashes and pursuits on the narrow roadway can quickly put other motorists and pedestrians at risk, particularly in the pre-dawn hours when visibility is limited.
Authorities have not released additional details about the condition of the occupants of the vehicle struck in the initial crash, or whether anyone was injured. The investigation is ongoing.