(Lawrenceburg, IN) – A Tri-State woman was sentenced on Wednesday for driving the wrong way on I-74 in Dearborn County while under the influence.
Erin Dowers of Cincinnati was convicted by a jury in Dearborn Circuit Court on April 28 of Criminal Recklessness Committed with a Deadly Weapon (Level 6 Felony), Operating While Intoxicated, and Operating a Vehicle with an Alcohol Concentration Equivalent of .15 or More (both Class A misdemeanors).
Indiana State Police troopers received multiple reports around 1:24 a.m. on August 17, 2025, of a vehicle traveling west in the eastbound lanes of the interstate.
Responding troopers were driving at high speeds in darkness while attempting to determine the location and speed of the wrong-way vehicle.
Dearborn County Prosecutor Lynn Deddens says police had no way of knowing how fast Dowers was traveling or when they might suddenly encounter her head-on in the eastbound lanes.
Despite the extreme danger to themselves, troopers continued their efforts to intercept the vehicle in order to protect the public from what could have become a catastrophic head-on collision.
Dowers’ vehicle was ultimately located traveling the wrong direction near the 161-mile marker.
A trooper used his police cruiser to disable Dowers’ vehicle before a collision with another motorist could occur.
Troopers observed clear signs of impairment during the investigation.
At sentencing, the court imposed a 910-day sentence with 365 days suspended on the Criminal Recklessness with a Deadly Weapon count.
The court vacated the OWI Endangering conviction to avoid double jeopardy issues but handed down a sentence on the Blood Alcohol Content of .15 or higher charge.
Dowers was sentenced to 365 days, with no time suspended. These sentences are to run concurrently, which means Dowers will serve 545 days but she could be released after 272 days with good-time credit.
She was also ordered to serve a year on probation, complete 40 hours of community service, and her driving privileges are suspended for one year.
“This case highlights the devastating danger impaired driving creates for everyone on our roadways. The actions of the responding troopers that morning likely prevented a tragedy. These officers willingly placed themselves in harm’s way, in darkness and under extremely dangerous conditions, to stop a wrong-way driver before innocent lives were lost,” Deddens said. “Their professionalism, courage, and quick decision-making protected not only the motoring public, but potentially each other as well. We are fortunate to have law enforcement officers willing to face that kind of danger in service to our communities.”
