Sheriff: Blood-Alcohol Highest I've Seen

OMAHA, Neb. -- Authorities in Omaha said they arrested a woman whose blood-alcohol tested at higher than five times the legal limit for drivers.

Sheriff's deputies arrested Denise Thomson, 25, of Elkhorn, Neb., after they received a number of calls about an impaired driver on Interstate 80 Thursday afternoon, reported Omaha TV station KETV.

In a news release, Sarpy County Sheriff Jeff Davis said his office got calls about a teal-colored vehicle going west that appeared to have children inside. Deputies chased the vehicle at low speeds for a few minutes before it stopped, the release said.

Sarpy County deputies said they performed a field sobriety test on Thomson, then took her to the Sarpy County Jail, where her blood-content tested at 0.415 percent. Davis told KETV he believes that is the highest blood-alcohol reading he's seen in his career.

Records show this is Thomson's first DUI charge.

Thomson was booked on suspicion of driving under the influence, negligent child abuse, driving left of center and driving on the shoulder of the road.

A child in the vehicle was determined to be a ward of the Department of Health and Human Services, the news release said. The child wasn't physically harmed, and was later turned over to her foster parents.

Thomson works for Beneficial Behavior Health in Omaha, which provides transportation to DHHS, the release said.

Thomson posted bail and was released from the Sarpy County Jail Thursday night.

The University of Texas reported that a BAC of 0.35 percent "is similar to the physical effects of surgical anesthesia. You may stop breathing. A BAC (of) 0.40 to 0.50 percent (means) you are probably in a coma. The nerve centers controlling your heartbeat and respiration are slowing down, and it's a miracle if you survive."