Impaired Woman Slammed Into Cruiser, Fled: Deputies

CLEARWATER, FL — A 44-year-old New Port Richey woman is in hot water after Pinellas County deputies say she slammed into one of their cruisers early Friday morning and then tried to flee the scene.

According to the agency, the case against Kimberly L. Kuhlow began to unfold around 12:30 a.m. Feb. 3. Deputy Tiffany Ashcom was patrolling when she spotted a disabled vehicle on the northbound curb lane of U.S. 19 North Frontage Road, south of 150th Avenue North, an email from the sheriff’s office said.

Ashcom activated the lights on her marked 2011 Crown Victoria and stopped behind the disabled vehicle to block oncoming traffic. As Ashcom sat in her cruiser waiting for a tow truck to arrive, deputies say a 2015 Hyundai Elantra that was heading north on Frontage Road hit her cruiser and kept right on going.

“Deputy Ashcom was not injured, but her cruiser, sustained disabling damage to the front driver side,” the email said. “Deputy Ashcom advised over the radio that her cruiser was struck. A tow truck arriving on scene witnessed the crash and followed the Hyundai until responding deputies could conduct a traffic stop.”

When deputies stopped the Hyundai, they say Kuhlow showed “signs of impairment.” She was charged with leaving the scene of a crash with property damage and one count of DUI.

Ashcom, the sheriff’s office said, was not injured.

Booking photo courtesy of the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office