Arraignment For Alleged Drunk Driver In Herald Square Crash Put On Hold

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - The arraignment for Stella Mednik, the accused drunk driver who police say plowed into five pedestrians in Herald Square Wednesday, has been put on hold until she's released from the hospital.

Authorities say Mednik was driving with a suspended license when she crashed into three vehicles, including a taxi, before mowing down people on a crowded sidewalk.

Law enforcement sources told CBS2 Mednik, 34, had a blood alcohol level more than twice the legal limit and had two crack pipes in her possession containing crack cocaine residue.

Witnesses said the driver was clearly intoxicated.

"She couldn't even stand up," one witness said Thursday. "They were trying to stand her up but she was slumped on the floor."

"Must've freaked out," said witness Matty Thomas. "She backed up, took off went around on the other side of the street, went through the intersection, skidded out and fishtailed then fishtailed again the other way and smacked into all the cars waiting at the light … cut across — she jumped the curb and literally five bodies flying in the air."

Mednik was charged with leaving the scene of an accident, unauthorized use of a vehicle, criminal possession of a controlled substance, DWI and aggravated unlicensed operation of a vehicle and refusing a breath test, 1010 WINS reported.

As WCBS 880's Irene Cornell reported, Mednick was an immigration lawyer who lost her license to practice because of illegal billing.

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