By Laura French
GULFPORT, Miss. — A Mississippi EMT who was charged with DUI last month after video showed her ambulance being driven erratically has pleaded not guilty, saying she was not intoxicated but having a seizure at the time of the incident.
American Medical Response EMT Kerstii Groce said in an interview with WLOX that she had only ever had one other seizure before Aug. 22, when she was pulled over in her ambulance and arrested after another motorist recorded the rig drifting on and off the road.
The other motorist said in August that he saw another EMT and a patient in the ambulance with Groce, and that she had told him the crew was performing a non-emergency transport. AMR did not confirm any details about the incident but released a statement saying Groce had been placed on unpaid leave.
Attorney Michael Crosby, who is representing Groce, says Moss Point police never performed a sobriety test or had her blow into an Intoxilyzer 8000, the device Moss Point police use to test blood alcohol content, before arresting his client for DUI. He also said Groce’s blood was never drawn for testing.
Crosby added that Groce’s neurologist has stated that she likely had a seizure or similar medical episode.
Groce’s remains on unpaid administrative leave while her case is pending. WLOX said it did not receive a response when reaching out for comment from Moss Point Police Chief Brandon Ashley.
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