By Joe Johnson
An Athens woman this week attempted to commit suicide by intentionally driving her car into a tree, according to an Athens-Clarke County police report.
Police learned about the incident at about 1:30 a.m. Wednesday, when someone called 911 to report a single-vehicle accident at the intersection of West Lake Drive and Valley Road, according to the report.
Central Communication officers learned from the caller that the wreck was intentional and that the 26-year-old driver “wanted to kill herself, so she drove head-on into a tree,” according to the report.
The report noted that a responding officer who arrived on the scene saw that the woman was alert and walking around, but was crying hysterically. She complained of knee and chest pain.
The woman also had an odor of alcoholic beverage on her breath, according to the report, which noted that as she drove by an ex-boyfriend's house she saw the tree and decided to end her life.
The woman said “she has contemplated suicide multiple times, every time she drives by this specific tree,” according to the police report
She was transported by National EMS to Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center, according to the report, which noted that the responding officer planned to obtain a search warrant for the woman’s medical records for an ongoing DUI and reckless driving investigation.
Anyone contemplating taking their own life should call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255