MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — The woman accused of driving drunk and crashing into a state trooper on the Skyway Bridge during a 10k run event has been deemed incompetent to stand trial.
Kristen Kay Watts is the accused drunk driver.
What You Need To Know
- Kristen Kay Watts, accused DUI driver in Skyway 10k crash, deemed incompetent to stand trial
- Watts, 52, facing charges of DWI with serious bodily injury, DUI damage to property and reckless driving with property damage
- PREVIOUS STORY: Trooper injured after woman crashes into cruiser during Skyway 10K
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 52-year-old Watts was traveling northbound on I-275 while approaching road closures for the race on March 6. Watts failed to stop or detour onto US-41 and drove through several traffic cones and barricades put in place for the 10K.
When troopers attempted to pull over Watts, she continued northbound on SR-93 while failing to stop for them and additional FWC officers assigned to the toll plaza.
After going through the plaza, Watts then approached two responding southbound troopers in the northbound lanes of SR-93 that were attempting to intercept her and protect the thousands of runners in the race on the Skyway Bridge.
Watts collided nearly head-on with Trooper Toni Schuck’s cruiser.
She was the last line of defense to the Skyway 10K runners and placed herself in harm's way to protect others. Schuck was hospitalized after the crash and continues to recover.
Watts is facing charges of DWI with serious bodily injury, DUI damage to property and reckless driving with property damage.