By PHILIP A. HOLMES
After allegedly injecting heroin at her home, a DuBoistown woman fled from emergency responders last week and jumped into the Susquehanna River, according to Old Lycoming Township police.
Meghan Elaine Packard walked out into the river until the water was chest high and she refused, at first, to return to shore, police said.
The incident began about 4:30 p.m. Saturday when township police, along with paramedics and emergency medical technicians, responded to the 27-year-old woman's home at 2540 Euclid Ave. to investigate a report of a woman suffering from "a heroin overdose," according to an affidavit.
As emergency responders approached the house, Packard bolted from them, police said. Minutes later she was spotted running on a set of railroad tracks in the 2300 block of Riverside Drive, police said.
When rescuers got closer to her, Packard suddenly jumped in the river, which runs along the tracks, police said.
Rescue boats from the city and South Williamsport were called to assist. However, as the boats drew closer to Packard, the woman ran back to shore, where she was held by police so paramedics could treat her.
Packard, on probation for theft, was taken by ambulance to Williamsport Regional Medical Center. Upon her release that night, she automatically was committed to the Lycoming County Prison on a probation violation.
Township police, covering for borough police, charged Packard on Tuesday with disorderly conduct for her behavior on Saturday. She was arraigned that afternoon before District Judge James H. Sortman and recommitted in lieu of $5,000 bail.
However, while an officer was returning her to the jail, Packard suffered a seizure and was rushed again to the medical center. She later was discharged and returned to the prison.
