A drunken driver traveling at high speed in the opposite direction along a road in Florida was about to cause a slaughter to the attack against participants in a track meet but was stopped at the last moment by a police officer who decided collide forehead against his car.
Kristen Kay Watts, 52, jumped over barricades and cones set up last Sunday on Interstate Highway I-275 in Manatee County to avoid car traffic during a 10-kilometer race, The Washington Post reported. .
Watts was driving a BMW sedan and authorities said he was under the influence of alcohol and was going the wrong way.
After several unsuccessful attempts to stop the vehicle, a police patrol received the order to "intervene" because the woman was approaching the area where the race participants were.
That's when Toni Schuck, Agent Highway Patrol, brought their vehicle in the path of women, causing a strong shock that was caught on video.
Both women were taken to hospital for immediate care, but were not seriously injured.
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"Although the crash was severe, I know that the injured police, who are receiving medical attention as I write this, are relieved to have been able to keep hundreds of innocent people safe," the Florida Highway Patrol wrote in an email sent. to the NBC affiliate station in Tampa.
At least 8,000 people, including athletes and volunteers, were in the race area.
"Our initial concern and fear was that the runners may have been injured," police said.
The police patrol vehicle after the crash. NBC affiliate in Tampa.
According to the affidavit published by the Tampa Bay newspaper, when Watts woke up in the hospital she began "yelling and insulting the medical personnel who were trying to treat her."
Her blood alcohol levels were three times what is allowed in Florida.
Kristen Watts faces five charges, including reckless driving and under the influence of alcohol.
According to court records, she pleaded not guilty Tuesday and her bond was set at $2,000.