A Florida state trooper is being hailed as a hero that saved dozens of lives after she crashed her patrol SUV into the car of an accused drunk driver that was going to barrel through a community race.
Police said 52-year-old Kristen Kay Watts had driven around numerous roadblocks on Sunday when her car threatened to plow into people running the annual Skyway 10k race.
“This driver had blown past several check points, going around traffic cones, going around other officers and had engaged in high speeds,” said Trooper Ken Watson on Monday.
Instead, 47-year-old Master Trooper Toni Schuck made the split-second decision to drive into Watts’ car to save the runners.
Schuck was left with serious injuries from the high speed collision and is healing from a concussion and a head wound. Watts was also hospitalized.
The dashcam from Schuck’s SUV shows the stunning moment Watts’ car slammed into the trooper’s vehicle.
“There’s no telling what would have happened had that vehicle actually reached all of those runners. The bottom line is these troopers saved dozens upon dozens of lives and saved even more people from serious bodily harm injury,” said Watson.
Watts was wheeled into court on Monday where she told the court that she was unemployed and living on money from a lawsuit.
The troopers said they didn’t believe that Watts was purposely trying to hit the runners. None of the runners were injured.
Watts is charged with DUI-serious injury, two counts of DUI-property damage, and two counts of reckless driving involving injury and property damage. She was booked on a $52,000 bond into Manatee County Jail.
Shuck has worked in law enforcement for 26 years.
“For this trooper to risk her life to make sure that others will be okay is the epitome of what service is all about,” said Watson.
Here’s the shocking video:
Accused DUI driver who crashed into Florida trooper laughs in first court appearance
www.youtube.com