A Florida woman was stopped from plowing her car into the track of hundreds of runners during a 5-kilometer race in St. Petersburg Thursday.
38-year-old Ashlee Lauren Morgan was allegedly traveling at 60mph in her Range Rover toward nearly 3,000 runners taking part in the Coffee Pot Turkey Trot race.
The woman drove past marked police cars and safety cones before being stopped from reaching the packed roadway.
“While under arrest, the defendant banged her head against the rear windows of the police cruiser, attempted to exit as her handcuffs were being adjusted, was combative, and OC Spray (pepper spray) was utilized on two separate occasions in order to gain her compliance,” police said.
“If it were not for the officers at the intersection gaining the defendant’s attention, and forcing her to stop, she would have ignored all traffic safety obstacles strategically placed at the intersection, and barreled through the intersection causing mass casualty to race participants.”
An arrest affidavit revealed that there were no signs of alcohol or drug influence or mental disturbances on the suspect.
Morgan was arrested on felony fleeing and eluding, leaving the scene of a crash, resisting an officer, and reckless driving. She was released after posting a $10,650 bond.
