Melissa Rycroft Arrested on Second DWI Charge After Police Say She Hit a Stopped Ambulance in Southlake

Melissa Rycroft Strickland, the former “Bachelor” contestant and “Dancing with the Stars” champion, has been arrested in Southlake, Texas, on a charge of driving while intoxicated, second offense, after police say she struck a stopped ambulance on Halloween evening and drove away.

No one was hurt, according to police. The 43-year-old has not been convicted of anything in the new case, and the investigation is ongoing.

What police say happened

According to the Southlake Police Department, as reported by CBS Texas and WFAA, officers responded at about 5:50 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 31, to a reported hit-and-run involving a Southlake Fire Department ambulance at South Peytonville Avenue and Chimney Works Drive. Investigators said the ambulance was stopped at a stop sign when another vehicle hit it and left the scene.

Police said officers located the driver a short time later and identified her as Rycroft Strickland, a Southlake resident. She was arrested on Nov. 1. (CBS Texas and USA Today describe the arrest date slightly differently, but both put it on Nov. 1.)

Melissa Strickland charges and bond

She was charged with:

• Driving while intoxicated, second offense
• Accident involving damage of more than $200
• Driving with an invalid license

She was taken to the Keller Regional Detention Facility, where bond was set at $9,000, CBS Texas reported. USA Today said Tarrant County inmate records listed her as in custody as of Monday morning. No public statement from Rycroft Strickland or an attorney had been reported at the time of writing.

Her earlier DWI case

This is the second time she has been arrested by Southlake police on suspicion of DWI. CBS Texas and USA Today place the first arrest in September 2025, while WFAA describes it as October 2025. CBS Texas reported that she took a plea deal in that case and was sentenced to probation about two months ago, which could make the new charges more serious for her.

Who is Melissa Rycroft?

Rycroft, a former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader, became widely known on Season 13 of “The Bachelor” in 2009, when she received Jason Mesnick’s final rose before he broke off the engagement to pursue runner-up Molly Malaney, USA Today recalled. She went on to compete on “Dancing with the Stars” that year and returned in 2012 for the show’s first all-star season, which she won with partner Tony Dovolani. She is married to insurance broker Tye Strickland.

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