By Lisa ZahnerVERO BEACH — Indian River County Sheriff’s deputies were called Thursday night to pursue a female driver in a white Ford Crown Victoria traveling southbound on U.S. 1 at speeds estimated at 80 mph and with the trunk open after leaving the scene of an accident. Her speed was estimated by the responding deputy and heard on a police scanner. The driver, who was later identified as 83-year-old Elizabeth O’Connor Skinner of Vero Beach, then turned west on Highland Avenue and, before the chase was ended, hit another vehicle, again leaving the scene of the crash. First responders to the crashes found that one of the drivers who had been hit was intoxicated. She was arrested and the damaged vehicle towed.”It’s extremely dangerous and against the law when someone leaves the scene of an accident where there is damage or injuries involved,” said Deputy Jeff Luther, public information officer for the Sheriff’s Office. “It’s a major issue that we have trouble with from time to time.”With sirens blaring, deputies finally caught up with the elderly driver at 210 Highlands Drive SE and got her to pull over. Skinner was arrested and booked at 10:43 p.m. on one count of Driving Under the Influence and two counts of Leaving the Scene of an Accident with Property Damage. She is scheduled for a first appearance on Friday.
