A Mahanoy City woman who is suspected of driving while under the influence led Tamaqua police on a pursuit before she crashed her car into a building around 10:05 p.m. Dec. 7.

Tamaqua police are charging Esmerelda Figueroa, 22, with fleeing or attempting to elude officers, possession of marijuana and driving under the influence.

According to police, officers were at the Five Points intersection when they noticed a vehicle that had been stopped at a green light for at least 30 seconds. When it began traveling north on Route 309, police were behind and noticed that it accelerated to a high rate of speed. It then traveled through an intersection while in the opposite lane of travel.

Police activated their emergency lights and sirens but the vehicle did not stop. While on the 500 block of Pine Street, the vehicle struck a guard rail, overcorrected and hit another guard rail. At that point, it went straight into a building at 602 Pine St., police said.

Police took Esmerelda Figueroa and her passenger, Christina Figueroa, into custody.

Inside the car, police found suspected marijuana, a grinder and rolling papers which Esmerelda said belonged to her.

Police read Esmerelda her rights and learned that she is not a valid driver.

She also admitted to using marijuana about an hour before the crash. Christina Figueroa was taken to St. Luke’s Miners campus for a minor injury. The car was towed from the scene.