Woman Charged After Wrong-Way Drunk Driving on I-65
Indiana State Police arrested a 42-year-old woman who allegedly drove 36 miles the wrong way on Interstate 65 while intoxicated.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Crime — General
Indiana State Police arrested Meisha Thomas, 42, after she allegedly drove drunk on the wrong side of Interstate 65 for 36 miles early Sunday. Thomas called 911 on herself at about 1:36 a.m. before being located in Jasper County.
Why it matters
The case highlights the danger wrong-way impaired driving poses to other motorists, who were forced to brake or swerve to avoid collision. It also shows how dispatch tracking of a caller's location helped locate the vehicle on a busy state highway.
Thomas faces felony battery against an officer, two counts of operating while intoxicated (one endangering a person), and reckless driving, and was transported to the Jasper County jail. The source does not report bail, court dates, or any plea.
The players
Indiana State Police
The state's primary highway law enforcement agency, which located the vehicle and made the arrest on Interstate 65.
The details
Thomas allegedly swerved across lanes, impeded traffic, and initially failed to stop for emergency lights and siren before stopping in the left lane of the interstate. Troopers reported slurred speech, bloodshot eyes, poor coordination, and a strong odor of alcohol, and she had reportedly left a Gary casino en route to Chicago.
Timeline
Early Sunday, about 1:36 a.m.: Thomas places a 911 call on herself.
Early Sunday: Thomas is arrested in Jasper County after the drunk driving report.
Legal Context
Indiana prosecutes aggravated OWI when a driver endangers another person, which is why Thomas faces one endangerment count alongside a second OWI charge. The source does not provide statewide statistics on wrong-way impaired driving cases.
Drivers on Indiana interstates should report wrong-way or erratic vehicles to 911 immediately, as dispatch tracked this vehicle's location to make the stop. The incident shows how quickly a single impaired driver can force emergency braking on a high-speed highway.
The takeaway
Reporting an impaired driver to 911 can lead to a faster stop before a crash occurs on busy highways. Indiana drivers who see a vehicle traveling the wrong way should call emergency dispatch right away.
Further reading
Explore more reporting in Crime — General across Indiana.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Nwitimes.
