Woman’s car helps police arrest her for hit-and-run crash

Cathy Bernstein told police she hadn't been in a crash with a pedestrian. But her car, which called the authorities on her behalf, said otherwise.

Anna Preston told police her car was struck from behind by a black Ford vehicle that took off, according to a report from WPBF in Port St. Lucie, Fla. She was taken to a local hospital with injuries to her back.

Around the same time, Port St. Lucie police received an automated call from a vehicle emergency system stating the owner of a Ford vehicle was involved in a crash, the report said. The emergency system allowed police to speak with Bernstein while she was in her car.

Bernstein told police there had been no accident, the report said, and that she didn't know why the vehicle had called for help.

But when police went to Bernsteins's home, they saw that her vehicle had extensive front-end damage and silver paint from Preston's vehicle. Bernstein's airbag had also been deployed.

Bernstein later admitted to the hit-and-run, was arrested and taken to the St. Lucie County Jail.

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