Lighting cigarette was explanation for accident

A local woman was in an accident because she was allegedly trying to light a cigarette.

On July 29 at approximately 7:50 p.m., the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office received a call of a single vehicle accident had occurred just west of 1639 150th Street. The reporting party indicated there was a truck in the ditch and the female driver was injured.

On arrival, a silver 2005 Dodge Ram 1500, was located in the south ditch of 200 Street approximately 325 feet west of the driveway. The driver, Melissa Jean Miller-Davidson, was out of the vehicle speaking to two subjects. She was visibly shaken and indicated her right hand hurt and there was bruising to her hand and right shin.

Miller-Davidson stated she had been eastbound behind a vehicle with the two occupants she was speaking with. She had been lighting a cigarette with the lighter in the dash and had not noted the vehicle ahead of her was not traveling at highway speed. She indicated she did not see brake lights or a turn signal, and when she looked up she applied the brakes and felt she would overtake the vehicle before she stopped. She indicated she attempted to go around the vehicle and observed oncoming traffic and avoided collision by driving into the ditch.

The truck she was driving left about 62 feet of skid from the right tires before the vehicle continued across the shoulder and struck a driveway. The vehicle was airborne about 17 feet before becoming lodged in the drain basin of the ditch.

The vehicle is believed to have sustained $5,000 damage as a result of striking the embankment of the ditch. Red Oak Rescue responded to the scene and Miller-Davidson refused medical treatment for minor bruising.

The vehicle was removed from the ditch the next day.