Kelly Ann Dillon, 50, Minot, was charged with driving under the influence following her involvement in a traffic accident last weekend. Dillon is the Ward County deputy state’s attorney.

According to a Minot Police affidavit, Dillon was the driver of a 2014 Honda Ridgeline pickup that collided with a parked and unoccupied Honda Civic at 11:33 p.m. last Saturday in the 1600 block of 6th Street SW. Police say the reporting party stated that it appeared as if Dillon was trying to leave the scene of the accident.

The responding officer found Dillon in her vehicle, with the vehicle in drive and the air bag deployed. He states Dillon appeared to be “out of it” and was staring off into space while speaking. Furthermore, the officer wrote that Dillon had bloodshot and watery eyes and was slurring her words. Community Ambulance was called.

Dillon remained in the vehicle, which was still in drive. Dillon told the officer she was unable to remove the keys from the vehicle. She was instructed to put the vehicle in park so that the keys could be removed. Police say Dillon said she had reached down to grab her cell phone when the crash occurred.

Evidence showed the Honda Civic came to rest approximately 20 feet from the point of impact. Dillon did not appear to be injured but paramedics recommended she be transported to Trinity Hospital. Once removed from her vehicle, which was filled with gas and powder from the air bag, another officer who arrived on scene detected a strong and distinct odor of alcohol coming from Dillon. Dillon repeatedly refused to submit to field sobriety tests.

At Trinity Hospital an emergency room doctor agreed that Dillon should submit to a breath test. Following that authorization Dillon attempted to leave the emergency room without being discharged and had to be stopped by a police officer.

At 1:22 a.m. Sunday, nearly two hours after the accident, Dillon consented to a breath test. According to police, the breath test revealed a blood-alcohol content of .179 percent. The legal limit is .08. It was then that Dillon was placed under arrest for driving under the influence of intoxication liquor.

Ward County State’s Attorney Roza Larson, via email, stated that, “Ms. Dillon is still working in our office. The matter is under review. She will continue with her assigned duties.”

Dillon was in court representing the Ward County state’s attorney’s office during a hearing Wednesday afternoon. She is scheduled for her initial appearance in Minot Municipal Court on the charge of DUI-first offense at 8:30 a.m. April 1.