Woman drives away from fender bender, charged with DUI

LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF)- Last Tuesday, just before six pm, a pick-up truck and a sports car collided on the four lane at the Hardee’s. However, the driver of the car drove away, according to a report from the La Follette Police Department.

The man driving the truck called-in the mishap and followed the car. The car pulled into the parking lot of Advanced Auto Parts, and that’s where La Follette Police Officer Aidyn Fudala came in contact with the driver of the Dodge Ram 2500 and the woman behind the wheel of the Mercedes SL2.

It was explained to Officer Fudala by the truck driver that he was driving toward Jacksboro on the four lane when the Mercedes pulled out from Hardee’s parking lot, and that he did not have enough time to stop but attempted. The truck ultimately collided with the car.

The officer then visited with Amber Albertini as she sat in her car. As Albertini searched for her license, registration and proof of insurance, Fudala stated in his report that he smelled the odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from the car. Fudala noticed there was a grocery bag in the car that contained alcoholic beverages, based on the report from the police department.

The driver of the truck provided a written statement of the wreck to police.

Albertini initially refused to exit her car and soon did. When Officer Fudala asked Albertini questions about the wreck, it appeared she was unaware of it.

After Albertini refused a field sobriety test, several containers of alcoholic beverages were found in the Mercedes. Two sealed alcoholic beverages were located along with an opened, cool to the touch, canned alcoholic beverage approximately half empty plus an open, quarter full, “shooter” bottle and lastly a silver bottle half-full with a yellow liquid that had a strong odor of a spirit style alcoholic beverage, based on the report.

Albertini was transported to the Campbell County Jail where Officer Fudala executed a blood search warrant. Albertini refused the blood draw and became very combative, according to the police report. After several tries to get Albertini to cooperate, she eventually complied for the draw.

Albertini, 40, of Sevierville, was charged with a failure to exercise due care, DUI, violation of the implied consent law and violation of the open container law. A July 9 court date is scheduled for Albertini who is free on a $10,000 bond. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-06/23/2026-6AM)