According to a Floyd County Police Department incident report, On December 17th, 2022, 10:15 PM, Officer Quijada was conducting patrol operations in the area of GA-1 at its intersection with GA-1 Loop. Officer Quijada reported, “[I] observed a dark in color Chevrolet Malibu stop at the posted stop sign located at the intersection of GA-1 Loop and GA-1. [I] then observed the dark in color Chevrolet Malibu turn left onto GA-1, heading northbound on the wrong side of the road onto incoming traffic, almost causing a head-on collision with another vehicle that swerved out of its way. [I] proceeded to turn on my blue lights and sirens in order to get the vehicle to pull over. The vehicle did stop just north of Booze Mountain Road.” Officer Quijada then made contact with the driver, who was identified as Jodi Laryan Kerley, 41, of Rome. She was asked if she realized what she just had done, to which she stated that this was her first time driving on this road and stated that she could not tell when the road divided. Officer Quijada reported, “[I] advised Ms. Kerley that she drove on the wrong side of the road approximately half a mile, almost causing a head-on collision with another vehicle that honked at her as it swerved to get out of her way. Ms. Kerley stated that she did not know she was driving into oncoming traffic and stated that she realized it when the other vehicle honked at her and swerved to avoid a collision.” Kerley had three passengers in her vehicle who were identified as 15, 16, and 17. Kerley stated that these were her three daughters and stated that they were coming from Alabama and were heading toward their house located in Atlanta. While talking to Kerley, the officer was able to observe slurred speech and was also able to smell a strong order of marijuana coming from the interior of the vehicle and her person. Kerley admitted to smoking marijuana before driving and was found to have a felony warrant through Alabama. Kerley agreed to the state blood state. Kerley was then transported to the Floyd County Jail, where she was charged with driving the wrong way, DUI drug, and fugitive from justice.
Rome woman arrested for DUI after driving the wrong way nearly causing head-on crash in Floyd County
