Wrong-Way Drunk Driver Arrested On I-4, Blew Twice The Legal Limit: Tampa Police

TAMPA, FL — A wrong-way driver accused of driving under the influence on Interstate 4 was arrested early Saturday morning, Tampa police said in a news release.

Kristian Beall, 24, was arrested in a collaborative effort between the Tampa Police Department and the Florida Highway Patrol. She was charged with driving under the influence, aggravated fleeing to elude, and fleeing to elude at high speed, and booked into Orient Road Jail.

Just before 2:30 a.m., police received a report of a vehicle driving the wrong way in I-4’s eastbound lanes.

Officers quickly tracked down a silver Toyota Camry traveling west in the highway’s eastbound lands at about 60 mph, TPD said.

They tried to stop the car, but the driver, later identified as Beall, refused to pull over and kept driving, narrowly missing a collision with a marked police car. Realizing the immediate danger, police worked with state troopers to stop the car.

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A trooper tried a tactical maneuver to stop Beall, but she kept driving. Police then performed a Precision Immobilization Technique maneuver to safely stop his car, TPD said. His car was then boxed in by both police and FHP vehicles.

After failing a field sobriety test, Beall was arrested for driving under the influence. Her breath alcohol content was measured at .199 and .202, both more than double the legal limit of 0.08, police said.

“There is absolutely no excuse for driving under the influence,” Chief Lee Bercaw said. “There are many safe and affordable alternatives available, including ride-sharing services, taxis, and designating a sober driver. If you choose to have adult beverages, make the right choice to protect yourself and everyone else on the road.”