HERO: FL Police Officer Places Her Car in Collision Path of Dangerous Drunk Driver Near 10K Race

By Eric Daugherty

Published Mar. 9, 2022, 9:45 a.m. ET | Updated Jan. 2, 2023

March 9, 2022 Updated 9:45 A.M. ET

TAMPA (FCV) – In a heroic demonstration of bravery, Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Toni Schuck approached an intoxicated driver head-on who was approaching an ongoing 10K race.

The driver would have been recklessly driving towards a road closure where runners were participating in the Tampa Skyway 10K.

Dashcam footage shows Schuck driving on the wrong side of the highway towards the drunk driver. Coming at a high speed, Schuck decided to stop the driver by sacrificing her vehicle and, potentially, herself.

🚨🚨 HERO ALERT: The last line of defense, Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Toni Schuck placed herself directly in the path of a drunk driver heading toward a road closure where countless innocent bystanders were participating in 10K race. Thank you, Trooper Schuck! pic.twitter.com/C29FwZFPII
— National Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) (@GLFOP) March 8, 2022

Both cars were totaled.

According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles and Florida Highway Patrol, the officer is recovering.

Florida Statute 14.35 defines the Governor’s Medal of Freedom, which allows the Governor – Ron DeSantis (R) – to present a medal to an individual who has “made an especially meritorious contribution to the interests and citizens of the state, its culture, or other significant public or private endeavor.”