Who:
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
Patrol Operations Bureau
DUI Unit

Deputy Tiffany Ashcom (Driver – Uninjured)
Age:  31-years-old
Hire Date: 05/20/2013
Vehicle: 2011 Ford Marked Crown Victoria Cruiser

Kimberly L Kuhlow (Driver – Arrested)
DOB: 05/18/1972
Address: 7107 Magnolia Dr. New Port Richey
Vehicle: 2015 Hyudai Elantra
Charges: One count of driving under the influence and one count of leaving the scene of a crash with property damage.

What:
Deputies assigned to the DUI Unit have arrested a woman in unincorporated Clearwater for driving under the influence after she crashed her car into a deputy’s cruiser and fled the scene. 

When:
The crash occurred at about 12:30 a.m. on Friday, February 03, 2017.

Where:
The crash occurred on US 19 N Frontage Rd, just south of 150th Ave N Clearwater.

How/Why:
Deputies assigned to the DUI Unit have arrested a woman in unincorporated Clearwater for driving under the influence after she crashed her car into a deputy’s cruiser and fled the scene. 

According to investigators, Deputy Tiffany Ashcom was on patrol when she observed a disabled vehicle in the northbound curb lane of US 19 N Frontage Rd, just south of 150th Ave N. Deputy Ashcom activated her emergency overhead lights on her marked 2011 Crown Victoria patrol car. Deputy Ashcom stopped her cruiser behind the disabled vehicle and blocked the vehicle from on-coming traffic.

While Deputy Ashcom was seated in her cruiser and waiting for a tow truck to respond, a 2015 Hyundai Elantra, traveling north bound US 19 N Frontage Road, struck the driver side of her cruiser. The driver of the Hyundai did not stop and continued north bound on US 19 N Frontage Road.

 Deputy Ashcom was not injured, but her cruiser, sustained disabling damage to the front driver side. 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.

Deputies made contact with, the driver and sole occupant of the Hyundai, 44 year old Kimberly Kuhlow.  Deputies detected signs of impairment and arrested Kuhlow for one count of driving under the influence and one count of leaving the scene of a crash with property damage.

Kuhlow was transported to the Pinellas County Jail without incident.

The investigation continues.