48-year-old woman found passed out behind wheel after crashing into pickup, Eugene police say she had alcohol in hand and had a .28% BAC

Eugene, OR – A 48-year-old woman was arrested Tuesday morning after police said she passed out behind the wheel and crashed into a pickup truck on North Jefferson Street in Eugene.

The Eugene Police Department said officers responded shortly before 10:30 a.m. to the 100 block of North Jefferson Street following a report of a woman who had been passed out inside her vehicle after a crash.

When officers arrived, they identified the woman as Melisa Cleveland and found her behind the wheel of a red Mazda. Police said Cleveland was holding an alcoholic beverage when they approached her.

The Mazda had backed into a gray Toyota pickup, leaving the rear bumper of the Mazda touching the front bumper of the truck.

According to police, Cleveland appeared confused and groggy and struggled to answer basic questions. She was also unable to provide a driver’s license.

Officers attempted to administer field sobriety tests, but police said Cleveland had difficulty walking and standing and was unable to complete the tests.

Cleveland was ultimately arrested after recording a blood alcohol concentration of .28%, more than three times Oregon’s presumed legal limit of .08% for driving under the influence.

Police also discovered that Cleveland had a previous DUII conviction that required her to have an ignition interlock device installed on her vehicle through February 2028.

Despite that requirement, she was arrested and lodged in the Lane County Jail on suspicion of DUII. She was also cited for violations related to the ignition interlock device and driving while suspended.

The crash did not appear to result in serious injuries, according to the police department’s account, and the investigation resulted in multiple charges against Cleveland.