In a bizarre twist in Missoula, a local woman tried to pass off her own driving mishap as a stolen car incident.

Authorities responded to the 20000 block of Houle Creek Court late last month, discovering a blue Subaru WRX lodged in a ditch.

The vehicle showed clear signs of a crash, with damage to the front and side, pressed against a fence.

Taryn Leavitt, 21, claimed her car vanished from her driveway around evening time.

She insisted the keys stayed inside her home, puzzled over how a theft could happen.

Yet her story unraveled under questioning, as she grew visibly nervous and struggled to recall recent events.

Deputies suspected impairment, especially after she admitted to marijuana use earlier that day.

A thorough DUI probe followed, uncovering probable cause for charges.

Shockingly, a young child in the car during the wreck shared the real tale.

The boy described how Leavitt rushed to leave for a Halloween event, lost control, and ditched the vehicle.

They escaped through a window, highlighting the reckless danger involved.

Further search revealed cocaine and ketamine in her possession, leading to felony drug charges.

This case echoes a spike in stolen car reports around Missoula this October, including pursuits on I-90 and multiple theft arrests.

Community leaders urge vigilance against vehicle thefts, amid rising incidents in neighborhoods like those near Reserve Street.

Local safety efforts intensify, with calls for better prevention and awareness.

What started as a supposed stolen car turned into a stark reminder of impaired driving risks.