Elderly woman arrested for DUII after rear-ending vehicle, nearly crashing into victim again with little child in car before refusing to take a breath test

Eugene, OR – A 61-year-old Eugene grandmother was arrested for DUII Thursday evening after a crash and after police said she nearly struck the other driver again while an 8-year-old child was in her vehicle.

At about 7:09 p.m. Oct. 1, Eugene Police responded to Barger Drive and North Terry Street for a reported crash. Police said Tarry Marye Kruit, 61, of Eugene, had rear-ended another vehicle.

After the crash, Kruit and the other driver got out of their vehicles to exchange information. However, police said Kruit failed to put her vehicle in park, causing it to roll and nearly strike the other driver’s vehicle a second time.

When officers arrived, they believed Kruit was under the influence of intoxicants. Police said she denied being involved in a crash but admitted to drinking alcohol.

An 8-year-old child was also inside Kruit’s vehicle at the time.

Kruit was given field sobriety tests and later refused to take a breath test. Police then applied for and received a search warrant for a blood draw.

According to police, Kruit was not cooperative during the blood draw and had to be held down so the test could be completed.

Kruit was arrested and lodged at the Lane County Jail on charges of DUII, reckless driving and reckless endangering.