Suspect taken to hospital after dramatic chase
A 37-year old Georgia woman is in custody on charges of aggravated assault and aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer and faces a host of additional charges today.
The woman, identified as Andrea Zampatti, 37, Canton, Georgia, attempted to flee from deputies and slammed into a St. Johns County patrol vehicle.
The investigation began shortly before 7:30 a.m. this morning when deputies responded to a report of a reckless driver who had struck a mailbox on Ponte Vedra Blvd.
The vehicle matched the description of a second report of a hit and run crash of a vehicle versus a bicyclist in the 1200 block of South Ponte Vedra Blvd. The cyclist was taken by air ambulance to Shands Jacksonville with serious injuries.
The suspect fled the area and was located on Palm Valley Rd. at the roundabout.
A St. Johns County deputy spotted the vehicle and pulled behind her. The woman reversed the vehicle and plowed into the front of the deputy’s car and again fled eastbound on Palm Valley Rd. The suspect struck another vehicle and possibly a scooter as she continued eastbound.
A second deputy deployed stop sticks that she avoided and as she aimed her vehicle at that deputy, the first deputy, who was still in pursuit, struck her car causing it to spin and miss the officer. The suspect headed westbound and struck another vehicle before striking a box truck head on in the area of Landrum La. The woman got out of the vehicle and fled on foot on Landrum Lane; where deputies caught up to her and took her into custody.
The suspect was transported to a Jacksonville hospital for observation. She faces the two charges from the Sheriff’s Office as well as a host of charges pending further investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. Alcohol is believed to have been a factor.
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