Mugshot of Tara Paige. Photo Credit: THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT.
ST. THOMAS — A woman is facing a DUI charge following a report of a hit-and-run auto collision that occurred Sunday night.
Officers en route to the scene of the collision, which occurred in the Red Hook area, were notified by central dispatch that one of the parties involved – a Toyota Rav 4 – was traveling west on Nicholas Friday Drive behind the other vehicle, a Honda Pilot, which had reportedly fled the scene.
When responding officers got to the scene, they found that the Honda had already been intercepted by other law enforcement officials. A woman, later identified as Tara Paige, was in the driver’s seat SUV, which was registered neither to her, nor to the man who was sitting on the passenger side.
The operator of the Toyota SUV was also on the scene.
As officers approached the driver’s side of the Pilot, they noticed the smell of alcohol coming from Paige. The woman could not provide a valid driver’s license from the USVI, nor could she provide the New York license she claimed to have. Paige complied with instructions to step out of the vehicle and when asked, told officers that she’d had up to two glasses of wine with her dinner.
Growing talkative, Paige told police that she had left the scene of the accident because a crowd was gathering, according to court documents. Page said she did not notice that officers were attempting to stop the vehicle she and the male passenger were in.
Police then administered the standardized field sobriety tests, which she failed. Upon being transported to the V.I.P.D.'s Traffic Investigation Bureau, Paige declined the chemical intoximeter tests and was subsequently arrested and charged with driving under the influence.
In court on Monday, Paige was assessed bail in the sum of $1.000. She will next appear in court at her arraignment scheduled for May 12.
