In a late-night incident that left many Fredericksburg residents in the dark, police apprehended a local woman following a destructive spree that culminated in a transformer box collision, cutting power to a portion of a residential complex. The series of events unfolded in the early hours of Saturday, February 10th, when the Fredericksburg Police were alerted to a suspected drunk driver in the vicinity of Ashford Circle around 4:00 a.m.
Responding to the call, Patrol Officer M. Kungkagete encountered a Buick Century, noticeably impaired with a flat tire and its engine idling, in the 1300 block of Ashford Circle. Despite repeated attempts by Officer Kungkagete to engage with the driver and have her exit the vehicle, she refused to comply and instead hastily reversed, fleeing the scene. The ensuing pursuit saw the Buick forcefully entering the Silver Collection Apartment Complex, breaching its entrance gate, and causing damage to a fence before making a dangerous dash across Hospitality Lane. The chase reached a dramatic climax when the vehicle struck a transformer box head-on.
In the aftermath of the collision, the driver, now identified as 38-year-old Cherie Cotton of Fredericksburg, attempted to flee on foot but was swiftly apprehended by Officer Kungkagete. Cotton now faces a slew of charges including driving under the influence, refusal to undergo a breath or blood test, obstruction of justice, property destruction, felony eluding, hit and run, and reckless driving on private property. She is currently being held at the Rappahannock Regional Jail without bond.
This rash act resulted in significant damage, notably leaving half of the residents at the Silver Collection Apartment Complex without power for several hours, highlighting the dangers of impaired driving and the swift action of local law enforcement to protect the community.