BRPD: Drunk driver arrested after traveling wrong way on I-10, causing five-car pile up

BATON ROUGE- Authorities responded to a crash involving a drunk driver Sunday evening.

Kristen B. Perkins was arrested and charged with operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, reckless driving, negligent injuring, and driving the wrong way down one-way traffic.

The incident occurred just after 5:00 p.m. on I-10 at Perkins Road.

According to the Baton Rouge Police Department, Perkins was driving a Mercedes vehicle and traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes of I-10 near Perkins Road and S. Acadian Thruway. Police say four other vehicles, including a prison transport van, were also involved as those drivers were attempting to avoid the Mercedes.

Police told WBRZ that Perkins smelled heavily of alcohol, had slurred speech, and admitted to having three mixed drinks before getting behind the wheel.

Because Perkins refused a field sobriety test, officials were able to obtain a warrant to have her blood drawn for toxicology samples.

Two people were transported from the scene with minor injuries.

The driver of the transport van was the only occupant; no prisoners were inside of the van at the time of the accident.