Deputies Say Drunken Woman Leads Them On Chase

A woman led deputies on a chase through Bradenton at about 3 a.m. after they tried to pull her over as she rolled into an intersection while slumped over the wheel of her car, according to the Manatee County Sheriff's Office.

Dede Clark, 56, was arrested Wednesday on charges of Driving Under the Influence and Fleeing to Elude.

Deputies were stopped at Cortez Road and 14th Street West when they saw a Chevy truck facing north on 14th Street at the light.  The truck began slowly entering the intersection, against a red signal. 

Once the truck began impeding eastbound Cortez Road traffic, a Deputy moved in behind it and called out the traffic stop. He then activated his lights, but the truck continued barely moving. A second deputy moved in alongside and activated his siren, at which time the first deputy said Clark appeared to be  slumped over while behind the wheel. 

After the deputies turned on the sirens, Clark began to drive north, slowly gaining speed, as she swerved across all northbound lanes. Speeds leveled off at 40 m.p.h., as deputies pursued Clark based on the danger the driver posed to the public, coupled with the suspicion of DUI, according to the report. 

The truck drove over the median a couple times, striking a tree at one point, and briefly stopping. The truck regained momentum again, until it veered into a telephone pole at 36th Avenue and 14th Street West, finally stopping. 

The driver, who looked to be severely impaired, suffered a scratch to her face, according to the report.