ANDERSON, IN — Indiana authorities say a woman injured multiple children in a DUI crash in Anderson and then left the scene on foot before officers found her nearby. Police identified the driver as 31-year-old Mia Winkel of Anderson after the Oct. 3 collision at an intersection around 11:30 a.m.
When officers arrived, they found an overturned black SUV resting against a power pole. The driver was not at the crash site, and investigators later tracked Winkel to a home in the 2200 block of Main Street. Police said she was taken to an area hospital after being located.
Officers found an overturned SUV and a missing driver
According to WXIN, investigators were called to the intersection after reports of an injury crash. The black SUV had flipped in the wreck and struck a power pole, leaving a damaged vehicle at the scene but no driver immediately in sight.
A witness told police the SUV hit a truck, causing it to overturn before it came to rest against the pole. That witness also said Winkel ran away on foot after the crash. Police later connected her to the incident and took her into custody after locating her nearby.
The crash happened during the late morning, and the initial response focused on identifying the driver and checking for anyone seriously hurt. No one was killed, police said.
Police say Winkel showed signs of impairment after being found
After officers located Winkel, WXIN reported that she was unable to stand without help and was described as extremely upset. Police then arranged for her to be taken to a hospital for evaluation.
While being transported, Winkel allegedly admitted multiple times that the crash was her fault and repeatedly asked whether anyone had died. WXIN reported that she later told police she did not remember the crash or driving the SUV.
Authorities also said she took a portable breath test that showed a blood alcohol content of 0.221. Police said blood was later drawn at the hospital as part of the investigation.
Children in both vehicles were hurt in the collision
Police said the crash injured children riding in both vehicles. A juvenile in the other vehicle involved suffered a broken arm, according to WXIN.
One of Winkel’s children, who was riding in the black SUV, suffered a broken rib. The outlet reported that no one was killed in the collision, but the injuries led investigators to file serious felony allegations tied to both the crash and the aftermath.
The details point to a violent impact that left one vehicle overturned and several young passengers hurt. Police have not said whether the children required additional treatment beyond the injuries identified in the investigation.
Witness account and breath test shaped the investigation
Investigators relied on witness statements, the condition of the vehicle and Winkel’s own comments after she was found. A witness told police they saw the SUV strike a truck, flip, and then hit the power pole.
That same witness said Winkel left the area after the wreck. Police also considered the portable breath test result, which reportedly indicated a BAC of 0.221, a level far above the legal limit for driving.
Combined with the hospital blood draw and the statements attributed to Winkel, those pieces helped build the case that led to her arrest. The investigation centered on who was driving, what caused the crash, and why the driver was not present when officers arrived.
Felony charges and bond follow the Anderson arrest
WXIN reported that Winkel now faces preliminary felony charges of leaving the scene of an accident resulting in serious bodily injury, two counts of causing serious bodily injury while operating while intoxicated, and three counts of neglect of a dependent resulting in bodily injury.
Police said she was held on a $50,000 bond after the arrest. The charges remain preliminary, and court proceedings would determine how the case moves forward.
The allegations combine alleged impaired driving, a crash that injured children, and the claim that the driver fled before officers arrived. For now, investigators have said the collision remains a serious injury case with multiple victims and several felony counts attached.
