The Orange County Criminal Lawyer Blog
According to the authorities, Melissa Rycroft Strickland allegedly hit a Southlake Fire Department ambulance with her vehicle and drove off. She was arrested the following day. The incident happened in Southlake, Texas, on Halloween, and no injuries were reported.
Rycroft Strickland, a former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader, is known for her appearance on The Bachelor in 2009. She also appeared on Dancing with the Stars that year before returning for its 2012 all-star season, which she won.
Police said the ambulance was stopped at a stop sign when it was struck just before 6:00 p.m. on October 31. The driver of the other vehicle left the scene after the crash. Officers later found the driver and identified her as Rycroft Strickland. She was arrested on November 1, and records show her bond was set at $9,000.
According to reports, the latest arrest follows a previous DWI case. Rycroft Strickland pleaded guilty to a DWI charge after a crash in September 2025. In that incident, a Cadillac Escalade she was driving struck a tree in Southlake. Witnesses had reportedly seen the vehicle being driven erratically before the crash. She was arrested after officers evaluated her at the scene.
For the earlier DWI, she received 20 months of probation and was ordered to pay $2,000 in fines and court costs. Her sentence also required 36 hours of community service, a DWI education course, and a substance abuse evaluation. She was additionally required to submit to drug and alcohol testing while on probation.
In the current case, Rycroft Strickland faces charges of driving while intoxicated, second offense, driving while license invalid, and accident involving damage to a vehicle over $200.
If you or someone you love is suspected of a DUI / DWI offense, contact Orange County criminal defense lawyer Staycie R. Sena at (949) 477-8088 for a consultation now.