Copyright Augusta Free Press
A Charlottesville woman is in custody after ramming her car into a police vehicle that was blocking the road after another car accident. Erin Hoopes, 43, of Charlottesville, has been charged with felony hit-and-run and DWI in connection with the 6:32 p.m. Friday incident, per Albemarle County Police. A look at the online court information system has Hoopes with a DWI offense in 2023 that resulted in 90-day suspended sentence, and a non-compliance with VASAP charge earlier this year that also netted her a 90-day suspended sentence. The Friday night incident took place in the 1700 block of James Monroe Parkway – Route 53 – south of Charlottesville. According to the ACPD, officers were responding to another motor-vehicle crash, and while a wrecker was removing one of the vehicles involved in the initial crash, an officer, stationary in their patrol vehicle, blocked both lanes with emergency lights activated. Hoopes went around the wrecker and struck the front of the stationary patrol vehicle. The officer was able to react quickly and put the patrol vehicle in reverse, reducing the impact and minimizing potential damage, according to the ACPD report. Both the officer and Hoopes were uninjured in the crash.
