Woman charged in accident that hurt crossing guard

A woman is facing charges in connection to an accident that hurt a school crossing guard last month.

Amy Hansen Smith, 46, of Chubbuck, is scheduled to be arraigned Friday on a felony charge on a third or subsequent offense of driving under the influence.

Smith was already facing misdemeanor charges of driving without privileges and without insurance in connection with the same incident. She was charged with similar offenses in April and in 2012.

Just before 8 a.m. May 20, a car was going through the parking lot of Edahow Elementary School on Pocatello Creek Road. The driver hit a barrier in the middle of the parking lot, then hit the curb and a crosswalk sign in the sidewalk.

A crossing guard on duty was standing near the sign. When she saw what was happening with the car, she took off running. She managed to dodge the car, but it hit the sign, which fell over from the impact and hit her.

Smith told officers she had taken her prescription medication before she left her house that morning. According to the police report, she claimed to need the medicine “as it was the last day of school” and admitted to taking Vallium.

Smith was arrested June 11.