A teenager who encountered a traffic wreck while driving under the influence of alcohol in Mesa, California, is facing DUI charges and would require representation by a drunk driving attorney. The teenager ended up in police custody on Wednesday, May 20, in the company of her legal representative, weeks after the crash.

Police said the crash happened on the 1500 block of Cliff Drive, in the Santa Barbara area. No fewer than three vehicles were involved in the highway crash on May 7, which officers believe resulted from overspeeding.

Initial reports suggested the 19-year-old, Sophia Nicole Koch,  of Santa Barbara was driving a stolen car on the day of the accident. A passenger, identified as Maesyn Fitzgibbons, 20, of Santa Barbara, was riding alongside the suspect in the vehicle.

Detectives reported that the motorist exceeded speeds of 100 mph while driving along Cliff Drive. Upon approaching the 1500 block, the speeding vehicle clipped a parked vehicle and then crashed into a second one.   The impact sent a third car skidding down the roadway, about 160 feet from its initial position.

The young woman reportedly left the scene after the crash.  However, she turned herself in on Wednesday, accompanied by her attorney.

They detained her on felony counts of driving under the influence causing injury; driving with a blood-alcohol level above 0.08 percent causing injury; vehicle theft; and a misdemeanor count of driving without a license.

In addition, she faces charge enhancements of being a habitual criminal, refusing to take or complete a blood-alcohol/drug test and excess speed.

Koch remains in custody at the Santa Barbara County Jail in lieu of $100,000 bail.

Anyone faced with DUI-related charges can contact a drunk driving attorney for representation.

Disclaimer: The Accident News article you just read includes information obtained from numerous sources. These sources include, but are not limited to, websites and press releases from law enforcement, the county coroner, fire departments, and other news outlets. While we strive to provide readers with the most accurate information, sometimes the information received is not entirely accurate. For complete details, please refer to an official police report.

The articles published contain sensitive subject matter that may be hard to read by some. We understand that losing a loved one is hard and devastating. Accident News’s decision to share the stories is to help others who may be facing the same situations by providing appropriate resources to the general public.

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