Bradenton woman arrested after drunk crash into Palmetto buildings, police say
Police say a 19-year-old Bradenton woman drove under the influence and plowed into two Palmetto buildings, leaving both structures heavily damaged.
The Palmetto Police Department said Emma Kinkle was heading north on Eighth Avenue West around 2:30 a.m. on July 25 when she lost control of her vehicle, went off the road and struck the front of two properties at 601 and 615 Eighth Ave. W. Police later said they found signs she was impaired and carrying a fake ID.
Kinkle’s Jeep Cherokee first struck pillars at 601 8th Avenue West before traveling through a wall at 615 8th Avenue West and coming to rest lodged inside, according to an arrest report.
A witness found her unconscious behind the wheel immediately after the crash, but police said she regained consciousness as officers arrived. She was the only person in the vehicle, suffered minor injuries that did not require medical treatment and declined transport to the hospital, according to the report.
Police said that as officers investigated the crash, they observed signs Kinkle was impaired. According to the arrest report, officers noted her slurred, “incoherent speech” and found a half-finished Corona beer bottle on the driver’s side floorboard.
Officers also said they discovered a fake Florida driver’s license in Kinkle’s purse that listed her as being over 21, even though she is 19.
Kinkle agreed to take a breath test, which police said measured her blood alcohol levels at 0.222 and 0.228, nearly three times the legal limit of 0.08.
Police arrested Kinkle at the scene and charged her with DUI with property damage, a first-degree misdemeanor, and possession of a forged driver’s license, a third-degree felony. They also cited her for careless driving, according to court records.
One building houses Moore & Moore Insurance Agency, according to business listings. The other building previously operated as a nightclub, but it is unclear if the business remains open.
Both buildings sustained significant damage to their front facades, Palmetto Police Chief Scott Tyler said. The crash knocked down columns at the first building, and the other building’s front wall was badly damaged.
The sheriff’s office website says deputies booked Kinkle into the Manatee County Jail on Friday and released her the next day after she posted a $3,500 cash bond. Court records show she is scheduled to be arraigned Sept. 12 at the Manatee County Judicial Center.
Court records show Kinkle also received a traffic citation for careless driving stemming from the crash. She received a speeding ticket in March that resulted in a temporary license suspension when she failed to pay the fine on time.
