On May 7 at about 1:15 p.m., afemale driver was involved in a minor traffic collision at a gas station at Lincoln and Pico boulevards.
When the victim confronted the woman about the collision, she denied hitting him and drove away from the location without exchanging information.After the victim called 911, Santa Monica Police Department dispatchers broadcast the driver's description to patrol units.
The woman was spotted by a Public Service Officer shortly afterward and detained by police officers, who conducted a field sobriety test on her. Officers determined the woman was driving under the influence of drugs (medication) and alcohol, so they arrested her and booked her at the Santa Monica jail.
The suspect was identified as Michelle Ann Kutchta, 50, of Woodland Hills. Bail was set at $15,000.