Bradenton woman crashed into a parked car, then tried to run over the witnesses, cops say

A 48-year-old Bradenton woman crashed into two vehicles and tried to run over two other people just before 1 a.m. on Friday, according to the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office.

Kellie Baker was arrested and charged with two counts of aggravated assault, failure to to stop for a crash involving injury and leaving the crash scene with property damage.

Her weapon: a Kia Soul.

Deputies say Baker was spotted driving her vehicle recklessly in the westbound lane in the 2700 block of 46th Avenue Drive West where she crashed into an unoccupied parked vehicle. The two witnesses who saw the crash then became a target for Baker who accelerated directly toward them, forcing them to jump out of her way, according to the arrest report.

Deputies say Baker was yelling racial slurs and telling them she was going to kill them.

After missing the two witnesses with her vehicle, Baker put the car into reverse and crashed into a second vehicle, occupied by two people. They were injured, but not transported to a hospital.

Baker then drove away from the area, but was identified by the witnesses as being known to them. A Facebook search confirmed her identity and deputies were able to determine that she is the registered owner of the vehicle in question.

Baker was booked into the Manatee County jail and remains in custody on bonds totaling more than $6,000.

According to court records, Baker has prior arrests for violent offenses, however the state attorney’s office declined to prosecute in each of those cases that include a 2014 arrest for child abuse and a 2010 arrest for resisting arrest with violence and multiple counts of battery on a law enforcement officer.

This story was originally published February 29, 2020 at 9:03 AM.