Second drunk driver collides with patrol car

Historic City News readers are asking, “What are the odds of two drunk drivers, running into two patrol cars, in two days?” because, that is exactly what has happened in Palm Coast according to the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office.

In last night’s incident, shortly before 11:00 p.m., a 22-year-old Palm Coast woman backed her car into Deputy Sheriff Fred Gimbel’s patrol car on State Road 100 near Landings Boulevard. Deputy Gimbel had stopped Karolyn Harris after observing her driving erratically as her vehicle was eastbound on State Road 100.

The deputy reported that as soon as he activated his emergency lights, Harris’ vehicle jerked to the left and returned to the lane before pulling off onto the shoulder.

“As soon as I opened my door, the vehicle put (her) rear lights on and began to slowly come at my vehicle. I entered my vehicle and quickly had to put it in reverse but before I could engage the shifter to reverse….the vehicle slightly bumped into my patrol vehicle’s push bumper.” Neither vehicle sustained damage, according to the report.

Harris, of 114 Ullian Trail, was arrested for driving under the influence after she failed several field sobriety tests. She was released from the Flagler County Inmate Facility after posting $150 bond on the charge.

Wednesday evening, a vehicle driven by a 45-year-old Palm Coast woman struck the open door of a patrol vehicle that was involved in a traffic stop on Palm Harbor Parkway around 11:16 p.m. The woman failed to stop at the accident and was located a short distance away where she was charged by the Florida Highway Patrol with DUI, DUI with property damage and leaving the scene of an accident with property damage. No one was injured in the crash.

“Often, people forget that these deputies – your neighbors and friends – put their lives on the line every day that they put on their uniform,” said Flagler County Sheriff Donald W. Fleming. “These are traffic incidents that could have been avoided if some common sense had been used by the drivers – don’t drink and drive.”