PORTAGE (WKZO) – State Police are taking over the investigation into an early morning crash that left a woman dead along Shaver, right across the street from the Portage Public Safety Department.
Undersheriff Pauli Matyas says 50-year old Juanita Lee was pulled over for speeding at Milham and Westnedge but she knew she was not just going to walk away from the traffic stop with a ticket, so she decided to flee south on Westnedge. She was a parole absconder without a valid drivers license.
He says she must have really been flying when she went out of control, because the car flipped multiple times after it jumped a curve and caught a tire on the railroad tracks.
The Deputy lost track of her initially and finally caught up when he discovered the wreck. Lee was not wearing her seat belt and was ejected from the spinning wreck.
Resuscitation efforts began immediately, but she was too badly injured and was pronounced dead at the scene. They believe alcohol was involved but it will take tests to determine that.
