Woman arrested for DUI on Seven Mile Bridge pursuit

A 38-year-old New Jersey woman was arrested Thursday night for drunken driving after she was stopped at Mile Marker 43 while driving on flat tires.

Heather Donna Collins was charged with DUI with property damage.

Multiple deputies were involved after motorists reported seeing a white Chevrolet driving recklessly and heading southbound on the Seven Mile Bridge shortly after 11 p.m.  A law enforcement alert was sent out and Deputy Corbin Hradecky saw the suspect vehicle exit the Seven Mile Bridge in the southbound lane. The Chevrolet then made a U-turn at Mile Marker 39 and began driving back onto the bridge.

The slow-moving Chevrolet began emitting sparks at Mile Marker 43 while Hradecky and Sgt. Nicholis Whiteman followed. The vehicle stopped after it almost hit Deputy Hradecky’s patrol car and struck concrete barriers on the bridge. Both driver’s side tires were gone and the rims were exposed. The bumper was torn off its mounts. The car also had several large dents and scratches.

Deputy Hradecky noted a strong odor of alcohol and vomit on the floorboard of the driver’s side of vehicle. Collins was the only occupant. She left the car in reverse before exiting and had to be reminded to place it in park. She then nearly fell over while getting out. When told she was driving partially on rims, she objected and then commented, “Oh, wow,” when shown the evidence.

Deputies removed the car from the bridge as well as Collins for safety. They then performed field-sobriety exercises.

Collins was taken to the Monroe County Detention Center on Stock Island after she failed those exercises.

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