| Laura Flanders |
A Peoria woman charged with manslaughter
for running over an 18-year-old man last month was so "dazed" from medications prior to the collision that she drank nail polish without realizing it.
On Wednesday, Peoria police arrested 23-year-old Laura Flanders for running over Joey Romero as he walked home from work; new details in the case emerged in court records today. Flanders had been in the department's cross hairs since the day after the incident, October 30, when police say tips from people in the community led them to her door.
Officers impounded Flanders' silver 2002 Chevy Trailblazer, which is believed to be the car that hit Romero.
According to court documents obtained by New Times, it seems Flanders was a bit of a train wreck when she hit Flanders -- apparently, she was hopped up on pharmies.
At the time of the incident, Flanders was on an unspecified prescription
medication that came with specific instructions to not drive.
According to the court docs, "Laura was not coherent to her actions by
her complete disregard to proper medications and not to drive while
under the medications."
Flanders says she didn't even know where she was when she drove 42 mph onto the
sidewalk, hitting Romero. She told police she knew she hit something,
but thought it was a pole or a bush -- so she drove off.
Prior to hitting Romero, Flanders was so out of it that she drank nail
polish without realizing what it was. She then spit it out onto her
friend's floor.
Flanders told police, "I was too dazed. I probably should not have been driving."
No shit.
Flanders has been charged with manslaughter and leaving the scene of a collision involving a death.
