Woman pleads innocent in DUI crashes

Staff report

CHAMPION

A 37-year-old Bristol Township woman has pleaded innocent to charges of vandalism, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and criminal damaging after police said she drove her car into C&L Tattoo Studio, 4807 Mahoning Ave., on Feb. 24.

Tabari R. Vandervort, of 5922 state Route 45, appeared Monday in Warren Municipal Court on the charges. Vandalism is a fourth-degree felony punishable by up to 18 months in prison. The two other charges are misdemeanors.

The incident did extensive damage to the business, which was closed Tuesday but had a sign in front stating that it would reopen soon. It is just north of the intersection of Route 45 and State Road.

Champion police said Vandervort drove a Grand Am from Marshall Avenue into the side entrance of the business at a high rate of speed, then collided with the side of a car parked in the front parking lot.

She then backed up and drove forward through the front wall of the business, striking cabinets and other objects inside, police said.

Then she backed the car up and drove forward a second time into the business, then struck the car a second time while backing up, they said.

The vehicle finally came to a rest after she drove it a third time into the front corner of the business, the police report said.

Vandervort was taken to Forum Health Trumbull Memorial Hospital for unspecified injuries. She was charged with the offenses Friday, after she was released from the hospital.

She is free on $7,000 bond and returns to court at 10:15 a.m. Tuesday.

Police said no one inside the business was injured. No dollar amount of damage was disclosed.