MADERA COUNTY — A Coarsegold woman who crashed her car, igniting a fire that burned over six acres on Road 406 near Jewels Vista Drive yesterday, was arrested on suspicion of DUI.
According to the CHP, Laura White, 51, drove her car off the north side of Road 406 just before 2 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 26, plowing through a barbed wire fence and into a private field.
She then attempted to drive back onto the roadway and got stuck on top of the fence, where her 2015 Hyundai Sonata sparked a fire in the dry grass.
A full wildland fire dispatch was called out, including air tankers and helicopters, plus engines from Cal Fire and Madera County Fire.
By about 2:30 p.m., firefighters had stopped the forward progress of the fire at 6.2 acres, but the Hyundai was completely destroyed.
White was taken into custody by CHP at the scene, and booked on charges of Driving Under the Influence. She may also be held financially responsible for the suppression efforts to put out the fire.
According to arrest records, White was arrested in March 2013 for DUI, and in July 2016 on Drunk and Disorderly charges.
The driver was not injured in the accident, according to CHP, and was transported to the Madera County Department of Corrections.
