WILLOUGHBY HILLS -- An Ohio State Highway Patrol cruiser was heavily damaged when it was struck by a car driven by an alleged drunk driver Thursday night.
According to OSHP, two trooper patrol cars were working on lane closures for construction workers on Interstate 271 northbound near milepost 239 just after 11 p.m. The patrol cars had their overhead lights activated in the local lanes south of the Interstate 90 interchange.
A 2018 Subaru Impreza failed to slow down as it approached the patrol cars and struck one in the left lane. The Subaru continued through the grass center median and stopped on the right berm of the I-271 north express lanes. Both cars sustained heavy damage.
The trooper inside the patrol car was taken to Hillcrest Hospital and released.
The driver of the Subaru, identified as 35-year-old Mary C. Vitolo, refused treatment. OSHP says Vitolo was impaired by alcohol. She was arrested at the scene and faces charges of aggravated vehicular assault and OVI.
