Woman pleads guilty to driving while on prescription drugs

KINGSTON – A Kingston woman, who struck a pedestrian while driving under the influence of prescription drugs, pled guilty to all four counts of an indictment against her.

Donna Smith, 38, of 218 Harwich Street, entered the plea in Ulster County Court, admitting that she was driving to a store a few blocks from home on April 29, 2007 after consuming prescription medication, and struck a pedestrian, causing injury to the person’s leg and permanent scaring to the person’s neck.

Smith was arrested at the scene and laboratory tests confirmed a number of controlled substances in her blood.

Ulster County District Attorney Holley Carnright said the effects of driving under the influence of prescription medication can be equally as devastating as driving drunk or on street drugs.