Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — The driver of a red Dodge Durango that flew down County Road 129 going 100 mph Monday evening spent part of the night in jail after being arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol, reckless driving and speeding. His wife, who was the passenger in the vehicle, also spent a portion of Monday night in protective custody before the two were released Tuesday morning around 1.
James and Kathryn Saint of Las Vegas, Nev., were stopped by Colorado State Patrol troopers and Routt County sheriff's deputies by Elk River Farm and Feed. A deputy following the Dodge down C.R. 129, which has a posted speed limit of 45 mph, saw it run other vehicles off the road and said it was traveling 100 mph, Undersheriff Dan Taylor said.
Prior to being stopped, the man had made a call to 911 saying that his wife was having stomach pains and they were on their way to the hospital from the north Routt County area. Taylor said the man was told to drive appropriately and that the sheriff's department would send assistance.
After officers stopped the vehicle, Kathryn Saint was loaded into an ambulance to be taken to the Yampa Valley Medical Center. En route to the hospital, she allegedly began yelling, screaming and fighting with the ambulance personnel. At Lincoln Avenue and Third Street, the ambulance had to stop when she reportedly tried to get out of it. A trooper who had been following the ambulance caught the woman and handcuffed her for protective reasons.
The woman continued yelling at the officers and doctors after arriving at the hospital, according to police reports. She refused medical care when it was offered and at one point she stormed out of the hospital, Taylor said. According to police reports, the woman had a strong smell of alcohol on her breath and she seemed to be intoxicated.
"She was very disruptive and certainly didn't make any sense," Taylor said. "It appeared that she couldn't make reasonable and rational decisions, so we took her into protective custody."
In the meantime, James Saint was transported to the medical center by sheriff's deputies. He failed roadside sobriety tests administered outside of the hospital and was yelling, screaming and pointing as well, Taylor said. The husband's blood-alcohol content was .068 and he was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol.
Although a blood-alcohol content of .1 is usually considered the threshold for a DUI charge, police can use their discretion in determining whether a person's judgement and motor skills are being impacted by alcohol, regardless of the amount. Saint was charged with DUI considering his driving performance, Taylor said
"It was not a productive environment. We're lucky nothing bad happened and nobody got hurt," Taylor said.

To reach Larissa Keever call 871-4208