Drunken Driver, 21, Flees From Police After Physical Altercation At Gas Station: Plainfield PD

PLAINFIELD, IL — A complaint of a car swerving across the roadway led to charges of driving under the influence and aggravated fleeing for a Plainfield woman, also wanted on a warrant out of Texas, police said.

Officers were called at about 12:05 a.m. April 13 to the vicinity of Renwick Road and Lily Cache Road for a report of reckless driving. While police were en route, dispatch informed them that the driver, later identified as the 21-year-old Samaya L. White Lightning, of the red Ford Fusion was involved in a physical altercation at Speedway on Lincoln Highway, Cmdr. Anthony Novak told Patch.

The person involved in the altercation decided not to pursue charges, so police could not share what occurred, Novak said.

As officers pulled up to the gas station, they saw the Ford speed out of the parking lot without its headlights illuminated. When police attempted to pull the car over, the driver fled and committed multiple traffic violations, Novak said, prompting officers to stop the pursuit.

Police then went to the address registered with the car and observed it pull into the driveway. Officers confirmed the driver was the same person who fled from the attempted traffic stop, Novak said.

Officers made several observations that White Lightning was under the influence of alcohol, Novak said, but when asked to perform Standardized Field Sobriety Tests, she refused.

Ultimately, police determined her blood alcohol content was twice the legal limit, according to Novak.

The woman was placed under arrest on a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol and for the outstanding warrant. She was taken to the Plainfield Police Department and subsequently charged with the following offenses before she was transferred to the Will County jail:

• Driving under the influence of alcohol
• Driving under the influence of alcohol with BAC of 0.08 or more
• Aggravated fleeing/attempting to elude a peace officer
• Disobeyed traffic control device
• Failure to signal when required
• Driving without required headlights

White Lightning also had a valid, extraditable warrant issued out of Bexar County, Texas, for criminal mischief, according to Novak.

The woman remains in custody at the Will County jail, with her next court date scheduled for April 27.