TAMPA, Fla. — The U.S. Air Force will honor a local Florida Highway Patrol trooper for her "heroic action" during the 2022 Skyway 10K when she stopped an accused drunk driver from heading toward thousands of runners.
Trooper Toni Schuck will join the Thunderbirds and take flight in one of the famous F-16 Fighting Falcons during the Tampa Bay AirFest this weekend.
"My husband and son both served in the Air Force," Schuck said. "I am still in shock today that I get the opportunity to fly with the Thunderbirds, I am a little nervous but I am more excited."
Schuck was part of a group of FHP troopers working security at the Skyway 10K event in 2022. She was in her patrol car at the bottom of the Skyway Bridge on the Manatee County side when she was alerted that a driver sped through barricades, traffic cones and 'closed' signage at 100 miles per hour, according to officials.
Once she saw the driver headed towards her, Schuck drove her car into the direct path of the speeding car. Schuck was hit head-on. Video from cameras on Schuck's patrol car captured the impact that would lead to a long road to recovery.
The crash totaled the driver's car, stopping it from proceeding towards the race route where about 8,000 people were running.
Schuck was hospitalized and suffered a concussion and a head wound that required stitches. She returned to full-duty status three months later.
Since the crash, Schuck has received several honors and awards for her actions that day.
“It was very overwhelming with the attention that the accident created. I am a very private person so to see myself constantly for months caused a lot of anxiety,” she said. “I am always grateful for the recognition that I received and the opportunities given to me, but it was a hard time for me mentally.”
Schuck was named National Trooper of the Year in 2023 by the American Association of State Troopers. She was recognized at the Skyway 10K event in 2023 and led the starting runners to the finish line at the 2024 race.
Kristen Kay Watts, a 52-year-old Sarasota woman, was arrested and charged with several counts of DUI after the crash. The arrest report said she had a medical blood alcohol level of .271, which is more than three times the legal drinking limit.
Watts is scheduled to be sentenced on April 4, 2024.