Christina Hall, and Robert Allen

Michigan

A Farmington woman inhaling nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, while she was driving crashed into a wall Monday on I-94 and continued along it for a 1/ 4 mile before stopping in Clinton Township, police said.

The 36-year-old unnamed woman was taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries after the crash at about 7:50 p.m., Michigan State Police said in a news release.

Investigators found 32 "propellant cartridges" of nitrous oxide in the floorboard of the 2011 Land Rover, as well as numerous Xanax and oxycodone pills in the woman's purse, according to the news release.

Troopers responding to the one-vehicle accident made contact with the woman. She appeared to be under the influence of a narcotic, police said.

The investigation revealed she was inhaling the nitrous oxide while she was driving, police said.

They said the woman has a suspended driver's license. The incident remains under investigation.

Police did not provide further accident details in the release.

Nitrous oxide is frequently used as an anesthesia during dental operations. It's also sold in cartridges for making whipped cream. The gas can be abused as an inhalant, and effects can include slurred speech, lack of coordination, euphoria and dizziness, according to www.drugabuse.gov.

State police Lt. Mike Shaw said in an email that while it's legal to have nitrous oxide, it's illegal to drive after inhaling it.

Contact Christina Hall: chall99@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @challreporter