A 41-year-old Spokane woman has been charged with vehicular assault for a crash on the South Hill last summer that severely injured her and the other driver.

Maxine Kristen Tindle pleaded not guilty last week for a head-on collision that injured Molly P. Sutor at 1600 Southeast Boulevard on Sept. 20.

Both women were rushed to the hospital with what police described as life-threatening injuries. Sutor, who was northbound when southbound Tindle crossed the center line, fractured an ankle, punctured a lung and lacerated her liver and spleen. She suffers from long-term disabilities that affect her vision and mobility.

Tindle's fiance told police she was coming from a doctors appointment and shopping trip and may have "overdone it and exhausted herself." But police say Tindle's blood sample showed methamphetamine in her system at the time of the crash, along with medications legally prescribed to her.

Spokane police Cpl. Dave Adams said in court documents that Tindle has a history of blackouts "due to her physical ailments" as well as a history of muscle spasms.

Tindle is represented by the Spokane County Public Defender's Office. Trial is scheduled to begin June 13.

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