Collision leads to drug charges

A Jay woman who was responsible for a three-vehicle crash Monday morning in Flomaton was arrested on drug charges and may face additional charges in the collision that sent one person to the hospital by ambulance.

Starla Ann Patterson, 29, 5268 Magnolia St., Jay, was charged with two counts of unlawful possession of a controlled substance that included the prescription drugs Xanax and Suboxone. She was transported to the Escambia County Detention Center and jailed on $10,000 bond.

Flomaton Police Capt. Chance Thompson said emergency personnel was dispatched to Highway 31 in front of the tennis courts at Hurricane Park at 8:16 a.m. in reference to a vehicle crash.

Thompson said witnesses reported Patterson was traveling toward Flomaton and was swerving in the road before she crossed the center line and hit an oncoming vehicle. A third vehicle was then involved in the crash.

Thompson said Patterson refused emergency medical services but admitted to taking Xanax pills prior to the crash. Thompson then conducted a field sobriety test. He also noted Patterson refused to give consent for a blood test. Thompson then obtained a search warrant and Patterson was taken to D.W. McMillan Memorial Hospital in Brewton for the blood test.

Thompson also reported during a search of Patterson's purse he found the Xanax and Suboxone pills, noting she did not have a prescription.

He said depending on the results from the lab on Patterson's blood, more charges are possible. Thompson also noted Patterson was on probation in Florida at the time of the accident and her subsequent arrest.