10-year-old seriously injured in crash on John Nolen Drive; woman facing 3rd OWI, police say

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A woman is facing a repeat drunken driving charge in connection with a crash early Monday that seriously injured a child and closed the road for several hours, Madison police said.

The Madison Police Department said 33-year-old Joanna A. Phillips is facing charges after a rollover crash on John Nolen Drive that took out a light pole and left a large debris field, causing the road to be closed for several hours.

TRAFFIC ALERT� Avoid John Nolen Drive. Both inbound and outbound lanes from downtown Madison are closed due to crash on bridge between Lake Monona and Monona Bay. @WISCTV_News3 #news3now pic.twitter.com/97MRuaAYWq

— Josh Spreiter (@JoshSpreiterTV) April 9, 2019

Witnesses told police that the driver was traveling at a high speed at about 3:15 a.m. and appeared to have been racing a second vehicle. Both drivers were going outbound on John Nolen Drive when Phillips reportedly lost control of her car near North Shore Drive. It rolled over several times, taking out a light pole in the middle of the causeway. The crash left a large debris field in both the inbound and outbound lanes, requiring John Nolen to be shut down until about 7 a.m.

Police said a 10-year-old girl suffered serious injuries and was listed in stable condition shortly before noon Tuesday.

Phillips, who was not seriously hurt, and the girl were taken to a hospital by a private party just after the crash, according to the report.

Many officers, concerned injured people may have been ejected, thoroughly searched the area, including nearby shorelines, with the help of a police K-9 team. This was prior to learning the driver and passenger had been taken to a hospital.

Phillips was arrested on suspicion of third-offense operating while under the influence with a minor in the vehicle and causing injury.

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