New Berlin woman charged with third drunken driving offense
By Jane Ford-Stewart
The driver involved in a crash that knocked out the traffic signals at busy Moorland Road and National Avenue in New Berlin shortly before the morning rush hour Oct. 8 has been charged with drunken driving, third offense.
Driver Gina Ramirez, 41, of New Berlin had a court appearance Wednesday afternoon and will have a preliminary hearing Oct. 31.
New Berlin police said that the pickup truck she was driving struck a mailbox, two light poles, two street signs, a traffic signal that reaches over the road, the signal box on the northeast corner that controls the traffic lights at the intersection and an electrical transformer box.
The truck came to rest when it hit a tree and landed on top of the transformer box, New Berlin Police Capt. Michael Glider said. The accident happened about 5:20 a.m. and crews worked on the traffic signals all day, finally getting them back in service about 3:30 p.m., Glider said.
Ramirez also was charged with bail jumping because she violated the terms of her release on a previous offense by drinking alcohol, Assistant District Attorney Andrea Will said. That previous offense took place in April at a residence in New Berlin. Misdemeanor charges of endangering safety by use of a dangerous weapon, disorderly conduct and intimidation of a victim were filed against her in connection with that incident along with a felony charge of failure to comply with an officer trying to take her into custody, Will said.