MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — A plea deal decision was postponed Wednesday for the woman who crashed into a state trooper’s cruiser near the Skyway 10k race in 2022.
Under a plea deal, Kristen Kay Watts was expected to plead guilty to DUI charges, which may help her avoid jail time.
What You Need To Know
- A plea deal decision was postponed Wednesday for the woman who crashed into a state trooper’s cruiser near the Skyway 10k race in 2022
- Kristen Kay Watts is expected to plead guilty to DUI charges
- Trooper Toni Schuck drove her cruiser into Watts to stop her from nearing the runners
- FHP trooper returns to Skyway 10k after saving runners from suspected drunk driver
The judge in the case said he does not take a plea unless everyone is ready for sentencing.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Watts, 53, was traveling northbound on I-275 while approaching road closures for the race on the morning of March 6, 2022.
Watts failed to stop or detour onto U.S. 41 and drove through several traffic cones and barricades put in place for the 10K. After going through a toll plaza, she continued driving in the direction of thousands of runners.
Trooper Toni Schuck drove her cruiser into Watts to stop her from nearing the runners. Schuck was seriously injured but has recovered.
Facing charges of DWI with serious bodily injury, DUI damage to property and reckless driving with property damage, Watts was deemed incompetent to stand trial in the months after the crash.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Kristen Kay Watts, 53, was traveling northbound on I-275 while approaching road closures for the race on the morning of March 6, 2022. (Spectrum Bay News 9)
She later entered a treatment program and was deemed competent to stand trial.
Watts’ attorney Bruce Denson said she will still plead guilty to the charges but wants the opportunity to testify and tell her side of the story and apologize to Trooper Toni Schuck.
They are asking the court to just impose an eight-months jail sentence (time-served), then put her on probation.
“We heard trooper Schuck’s side of it and it’s very heroic. We have nothing to take away from that,” Denson said. “But there is an equally heroic story from Ms. Watts (to) tell about what she’s done since that accident, since that day.
“She spent 8 months in jail. She did 50 days at a residential rehab program. Went to an intensive outpatient program. She’s now living in a sober living house.”
The next hearing will be Nov. 6.