OCEAN CITY- – An Ocean City woman was arrested on hit-and-run and leaving the scene charges last weekend after allegedly striking a bicyclist with her vehicle and driving away before being located at her residence.
Around 10:50 p.m. last Friday, Ocean City Police responded to a reported motor vehicle collision involving a bicycle in the area of 46th Street. The officer located the victim, who was bleeding from her elbows and hands and complained of a head injury as a result of the collision. Police also observed the victim’s damaged bicycle.
A witness was located who described the events leading up to the crash and was able to provide police with a license plate number along with a description of the vehicle. A search revealed the vehicle belonged to Meredith Ashley, 21, of Ocean City. The witness told police Ashley had been seen driving in the bus lane purposely splashing pedestrians by driving through puddles. The witness told police she observed Ashley strike the bicyclist and speed off, according to police reports.
Ashley did not stop, did not render aid and did not provide any information to the victim or police. The witness and two pedestrians who had allegedly been splashed by Ashley rendered aid to the victim before police arrived. OCPD officers located the suspect’s vehicle around 3rd Street. The vehicle had damage to the front bumper and hood and a spider web-like crack in the windshield consistent with the collision described by the victim and witnesses.
OCPD officers located Ashley at her residence on 2nd Street. Ashley admitted driving the vehicle and acknowledged striking the bicyclist, although she said she had hit her brakes to avoid another vehicle when she hit the bicyclist. Ashley reportedly told police she fled the scene because she “freaked out,” and that she knew an ambulance would be coming, a statement by which she essentially admitted knowing the victim was injured.
While speaking with Ashley, OCPD officers detected an odor of alcoholic beverage and she admitted she had a shift drink at her place of employment at 49th Street before the incident. According to police reports, Ashley referred to the victim as “a foreigner who would not process charges against her,” and reportedly laughed about the incident during questioning. Ashley was charged with hit-and-run, leaving the scene of an accident and numerous traffic charges related to the incident.
