Woman charged with 7th DUI after huffing 'duster spray' minutes before car crash: Prosecutors

WEST BEND, Wis. (WITI) -- An OWI charge was filed Tuesday, Jan. 21 against a West Bend woman prosecutors said was huffing before she caused a three-vehicle crash on Friday, Jan. 17 in West Bend.

According to prosecutors, Kristine Ruppert, 47, purchased “duster spray” at Walmart minutes before the crash happened, and stands accused of her seventh OWI offense.

Officials responded to the scene of the crash involving three vehicles at 1:39 p.m., the criminal complaint said, and the “duster spray” was purchased at 1:27 p.m.

According to the complaint, Ruppert said, “I'm not really sure” what happened and said she wasn't sure whether she was hit, or she hit someone. When advised that witnesses indicated she caused the crash, she said, “Probably, yeah,” the complaint said. Ruppert continued that she was, “Going through a lot of stuff,” telling investigators she was dealing with withdrawals from Effexor and hadn't used prescription medication that she just picked up at Walmart, nor any intoxicants. She said she remembered leaving Walmart, but couldn't recall how the crash happened -- adding that she was “in a really bad way.”

Ruppert was arrested for OWI but denied using the spray. She was taken to the hospital for a blood draw.

Ruppert has six prior OWI convictions from 1998, 2000, 2001, 2007, 2012 and 2018.