DAYTONA BEACH, FL - A 24-year-old woman was arrested this past August in Daytona Beach, Florida, after she allegedly crashed into a parked vehicle while intoxicated and proceeded to strike the owner of said vehicle after being confronted about the crash.
On August 30, Daytona Beach Police officers responded to a residential neighborhood after reports came in regarding a vehicle collision involving a driver behind the wheel of a Ford Bronco and a vehicle parked outside one of the homes. Dispatchers reportedly received calls about the suspected driver of the Bronco, identified as 24-year-old Elizabeth Boucher, alleging she was knocking on random doors in the neighborhood following the collision before attempting to flee the scene.
When officers arrived on the scene, they reportedly found Boucher standing along the side of the road and showing signs of possible impairment. Authorities say Boucher was having “difficulty standing” and allegedly smelled like alcohol, but had refused to participate in any field sobriety exercises or tests.
One of the officers on scene made contact with the owner of the parked vehicle involved in the incident, with said vehicle owner reportedly telling police a neighbor had informed her about her vehicle being struck by the driver of the Bronco. When the vehicle owner went to confront the driver, she reportedly observed Boucher exiting from the passenger side of the Bronco and attempting to get into the driver’s side of the vehicle.
According to authorities, the owner of the parked vehicle tried to prevent Boucher from leaving the scene, leading to a physical confrontation in which Boucher allegedly struck the vehicle owner in the face with a closed fist. Per the affidavit related to the incident, the vehicle owner struck Boucher in response, leading to the suspect falling to the ground and making a second, yet failed, attempt at another alleged assault after getting back on her feet.
In bodycam footage from the incident released by authorities, Boucher is seen making repeated incoherent statements regarding the circumstances of her detention and eventual arrest, at one point telling officers, “I thought we were friends,” when it came time for her to be taken into custody.
Boucher has since been charged with DUI resulting in property damage, resisting without violence, battery, refusal to submit to DUI testing, and possession of a controlled substance without a prescription. Jail records show Boucher was released on her own recognizance on August 31 and has her next scheduled court appearance slated for October 21.
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