A Florida Highway Patrol trooper is being hailed a hero for risking her own life by forcing a head-on collision with a drunk driver who was on course to crash into a group of marathon runners.
The incident happened Sunday morning in Tampa Bay, where the Sunshine Skyway Bridge had been shut down for a 10K race, WKMG reported.
According to police, a suspected drunk driver went around multiple barricades along I-275 and was traveling at a high rate of speed toward the race course where thousands of runners were participating.
Concerned about the safety of the racers, Trooper Toni Schuck reacted immediately and drove her vehicle directly into the path of the oncoming driver, police said.
The violent collision was caught on dash cam video, which was posted to social media by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
Schuck and the driver, identified as 52-year-old Kristen Kay Watts, were both taken to the hospital with injuries, according to WCVB.
In a statement to WFLA, the Florida Highway Patrol said Trooper Schuck "is absolutely relieved to have been available to ensure the safety of hundreds of innocent persons." She's receiving medical care and expected to recover from her injuries.
Watts is facing multiple charges, including driving under the influence causing serious injury and reckless driving, WTVJ reported.
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