Sarasota woman charged with DUI in Skyway crash deemed incompetent to stand trial

Gabriela Szymanowska, Sarasota Herald-Tribune
·2 min read

A Sarasota woman accused of driving drunk and crashing into a Florida Highway Patrol trooper's vehicle on the Sunshine Skyway Bridge on March 6 has been declared incompetent to stand trial, according to court documents.

Manatee County court documents state Kristen Kay Watts, 52, was found incompetent to proceed with a trial, pre-trial hearings, entry of a plea, and sentencing due to mental illness.

The document states Watts met the criteria to be committed into a Department of Children and Family Services mental health treatment facility and will be admitted once a bed becomes available.

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Watts was originally charged with driving under the influence with serious injury, two counts of DUI with property damage, and two counts of reckless driving involving injury and property damage.

However, State Attorney Ed Brodsky filed only two charges on March 25, including driving under the influence property damage and/or personal injury and a new charge of fleeing or attempting to elude a law enforcement officer, according to court documents. The other four criminal charges were not filed.

Watts was arrested by FHP after speeding through barricades set up on Interstate 275 in Manatee County for the annual Armed Forces Skyway 10K Race, endangering the nearly 7,000 participants.

State officers attempted to stop the BMW Watts was driving after she ignored two Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers guarding the Skyway toll plaza. Trooper Toni Schuck drove her patrol vehicle into the path of the oncoming car. Schuck and Watts were injured in the nearly head-on collision and both were taken to an area hospital.

FHP Lt. Gregory S. Bueno said Schuck is doing well with her recovery but has not yet returned to active duty. He added they hope and anticipate Schuck will return to work within the next couple of weeks.

Gabriela Szymanowska is a Report For America corps member covering the courts for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Have a news tip? Contact Gabriela Szymanowska at gszymanowska@gannett.com, or on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Sarasota woman found incompetent to stand trial in Skyway Bridge crash