For now, says Sgt. Chad Payne of the Dade County Sheriff's Office, Lora Wooten, the accused driver in Tuesday's two-state police chase that cost a Dade lawman his leg,
will be staying in jail in Walker County. But the office has now announced formal charges against the 35-year-old Henagar, Ala., woman. Here they are:
Driving within emergency lane/gore/median
Improper lane change/failure to maintain lane
Failure to register vehicle
Defective tires
Serious injury by vehicle
Passing within 200 feet of oncoming traffic
Driving on wrong side of road
Felony fleeing or attempting to elude
Removing tag with intent to conceal identity of vehicle
Aggravated battery
Improper passing in no-passing zone
Failure to obey traffic control device
Seatbelt violation
DUI drugs
Hit and run
Expired license plate
Theft by bringing stolen property into state
Aggravated assault against police officer
Driver to exercise due care
Ms. Wooten's wild ride up Highway 11 pursued by a fleet of law enforcement vehicles started in DeKalb County, Ala., apparently as a result of some allegation of burglary. But Sgt. Payne she'll have to face the music in Dade before she's returned to Alabama for charging. "She won't be going back to DeKalb until she answers for her charges here," he said.
Ms. Wooten's Ford pickup struck struck the Dade Sheriff Office's chief deputy, Maj. Tommy Bradford, as he attempted to lay spikes on Highway 11 just south of town to disable the fugitive vehicle and end the chase. Bradford suffered multiple injuries including the loss of his leg, but is reportedly in good spirits as he faces numerous surgeries.
Sgt. Payne said no bail had been set for Ms. Wooten.
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