By Suzie Ziegler
TAMPA, Fla. — A hero state trooper has returned to full duty after she was seriously injured on the job in March. Trooper Toni Schuck made headlines by driving into the path of an accused drunk driver to protect pedestrians in a nearby road race. Video showed the DUI suspect striking Schuck’s squad car head-on. Now, Schuck has recovered and is back at work, WTSP News reported Tuesday.
Schuck, 47, has been widely hailed a hero since the crash. According to WTSP News, she has received keys to two cities, thrown out the opening pitch at a Tampa Rays game and was honored with a “Trooper Toni Schuck Day” in Manatee County, Florida.
Schuck says she had a rocky recovery and is glad to be back.
https://twitter.com/BradentonPD/status/1536708025045684225
“It’s been a process. Bumpy in the beginning, but it’s smoothed out to the point where I can get back to full duty,” Schuck said. “I knew in my heart that I was going to fight to get back.”
The accused drunk driver, 52-year-old Kristen Watts, faces multiple charges related to DUI and reckless driving causing bodily injury and damage to property.