Sara Balcome

Name of Accused:
Balcome, Sara Grace

Date of Arrest:
12/01/2024


Charges For Arrest:
DUI – DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF MULTIPLE SUBSTANCES
FOLLOWING TOO CLOSELY
HIT AND RUN; DUTY OF DRIVER TO STOP AT OR RETURN TO SCENE OF ACCIDENT
Officer’s Narrative:
[Please note: The following is a direct transcription from the official initial incident report. The Georgia Gazette does not fix any spelling or grammatical errors that may exist. Any changes or redactions made by our staff are placed inside brackets. Some errors may exist. All subjects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The topics discussed may be sensitive to some readers. Discretion is advised.]
On the above date and time I was dispatched to I-85 Southbound at mile marker 131 in reference to a motor vehicle accident.
Once I arrived on scene I was told by one of the witnesses, [WITNESS ], that the vehicle with tag #[REDACTED], that was wrecked in the right two lanes of I-85, driver fled the scene. [WITNESS ] told me that the driver was a young blond and possibly looked like she was a teenager. [WITNESS ] said that she was freaking out saying to him “Get me out of here”. [WITNESS ] told me that he saw her hit the wall with her vehicle. He said that he was not sure but it looked like she hit another vehicle. [WITNESS ] told me that he opened the driver side door to her vehicle to help her and he saw that her nose was bleeding. He told me that she was telling him please take me . He said that he looked away and looked back she was gone from the vehicle and scene.
While on scene I observed a 18-wheeler on the shoulder with his caution lights on, I went down to make with the driver. While speaking with the driver of the eighteen wheeler Braselton pd was looking on I-85 to try and make with the driver of the vehicle that fled the scene. I spoke with the driver of the 18-wheeler [VICTIM ] and he told me that he was traveling down I-85 Southbound and he told me that he was rear ended. [VICTIM ] told me that he does not know who hit him but he felt it when the vehicle hit the rear end of his 18-wheeler. While observing the 18-wheeler there was no apparent damage on the rear end. While on scene [VICTIM ] was reference a case number and asked to stand by on scene.
While on scene a passerby stopped and asked if I was trying to locate someone. I was told by the passerby that he saw a female walking northbound on I-85. I thanked the driver and informed Braselton pd of the information that I had just required. While waiting for next list, Stancil’s towing, I conducted a vehicle inventory of the vehicle with tag #[REDACTED]. While conducting my vehicle inventory there was a grinder and a bong found in the trunk of the vehicle, Stancil’s towing then arrived on scene. I was advised on scene that Sergeant Griffin 153 had located the female driver and made with her at Hwy 124 and Hwy 60. I was advised by Sergeant Griffin that he would be headed with the female to the pilot gas station in Braselton. I stood by on scene until Stancil’s retrieved the vehicle. Once Stancil’s took possession of the vehicle I informed Dispatch that I would be en route to Pilot gas station in Braselton.
Once at the pilot Sergeant Griffin had the female exit his patrol vehicle. While speaking with the female who was identified as Sara Grace Balcome she made the statement “I know I ran its fuked up”. Sara said to me I know I’m drunk. Sara told me, I’m to fuked up take me to jail. Sara told me “I’m over the legal limit fu*king arrest me”. Sara admitted to crawling through the woods leaving the scene of the accident. While speaking with Sara I could smell the odor of alcohol emitting from her. At that time Sara was advised that she would be under arrest for DUI at this time. I read implied consent to Sara where she agreed on scene. Sara was then placed in handcuffs double locking cuffs and checking for proper fit. Sara was then placed in the back of my patrol car.
Dispatch was notified that Implied consent was read and agreed while on scene. I then notified Dispatch that I would be transporting Sara to North East Georgia Medical Center in Braselton at this time. Once at the hospital I had Sara exit from the back of my patrol vehicle and we entered into the facility on the emergency side entrance. Once inside Sara saw medical personnel. At the ER while speaking with medical staff Sara did admit to alcohol and weed when she wa asked what she took tonight.
I stood by with Sara for the remainder of the hospital visit. While at the hospital Sara did withdraw her consent to have her blood tested and she did not give blood at this time. During the hospital visit Sara did make multiple statements that she wanted to die. Jail staff was notified of the statements that were made while at the hospital. Once Sara was cleared from medical personnel she was given discharge papers. I then notified Dispatch that I would be en route to the County Jail with Sara. Once at the jail I turned over Sara without any incident to jail personnel. Jail personnel were notified again that Sara had made suicide statements in my presence. Once Sara was turned over to jail personnel I then exited the facility. Dispatch was notified that I would be back in service at this time.
Charges are the following:
O.C.G.A 40-6-391 Dui Refusal Citatiton 09236
O.C.G.A 40-6-49 Following to closely Citation 09239
O.C.G.A 40-6-270 Hit and run, leaving the scene of a accident Citation 09238
[End of Narrative]