CITRUS COUNTY, FL (352today.com) – A wild scene unfolded in Citrus County on Monday evening. Deputies from the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) say what started off as a traffic stop of a woman suspected to be involved in a hit-and-run accident turned into a high-speed pursuit.
Deputies say when they tried to stop a driver, later identified as 66-year-old Brenda Evangelista Jenkins, she took off at speeds in excess of 90 mph.
Deputies say Jenkins accelerated down Gulf to Lake Highway in Inverness, driving erratically and swerving in and out of traffic.
They say she then sideswiped a vehicle before hitting another at the intersection of West Main Street and North Pine Avenue.
After the collision, they say she continued east on West Main Street where she plowed into a crosswalk pole.
After the vehicle came to a rest, deputies say Jenkins refused to get out and blamed deputies for everything.
During their interaction, deputies say they noticed that Jenkins’ speech was slurred, her eyes were bloodshot, and her breath smelled of alcohol. They say they also observed an open wine container in the center console of her vehicle.
The sheriff’s office says Jenkins’ blood alcohol content registered at .251 which is more than three times the legal limit of .08.
Deputies arrested and charged her with:
- Fleeing and eluding with disregard for safety
- 2 Counts of DUI with property damage
- Leaving the scene of a crash with property damage
The sheriff’s office is holding Jenkins without bond.