Woman charged after car containing 229 pounds of weed runs out of gas, police say

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A woman is facing a drug charge after police discovered 229 pounds of marijuana inside the car she abandoned on a Tennessee bridge when the vehicle ran out of gas, authorities said.

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According to WHBQ-TV, Memphis police arrested Catherine Mardesich, 54, on a charge of possession of a controlled substance in connection with the incident, which occurred Sunday.

In a Facebook post Monday, the department said Tennessee Department of Transportation and Arkansas State Police responded at 3:30 p.m. Sunday to a report of an abandoned Chevrolet Suburban on the Interstate 55 bridge. Authorities moved the vehicle, which had been struck on the bridge, to the nearby Metal Museum so officers could complete the crash report.

“While on the scene, the driver, Catherine Mardesich, returned. The car had been left due to being out of gas,” the post read. “She was advised that the vehicle was to be inventoried and towed. She advised that officers could not go inside the car.”

Officers then approached the car and “smelled raw marijuana coming from the vehicle,” according to the post.

While searching the vehicle, officers found $17,800 and boxes containing 229 pounds of marijuana, WHBQ reported.

Police arrested Mardesich and took her to Jail East in Shelby County, the department said.

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