Local

St. Johns County woman charged with DUI manslaughter in JSO Bailiff’s death

A St. Johns County woman has now been arrested for DUI Manslaughter, in connection to the crash that killed JSO Bailiff Cathy Adams.

46-year-old Kim Johnston was previously arrested for two counts of DUI with serious bodily injury for the December 9th crash on I-95 near State Road 16. She was allegedly speeding at up to 90 miles-per-hour and driving carelessly when she hit an SUV, leading it to overturn and hit the guardrail. Two people in the other car involved in the crash- Adams and her husband JSO Motorman Jack Adams- were critically injured. Cathy Adams later died, and Jack Adams continues his lengthy recovery.

FHP has now charged Johnston with DUI Manslaughter. They say multiple witnesses put her in the driver’s seat at the time of the crash.

The initial arrest report from the Florida Highway Patrol said Johnston had bloodshot and watery eyes, was slurring her speech, and her breath emanated a strong smell of alcohol. Troopers say she agreed to a field sobriety test, but struggled with some of the exercises and refused to do others.  Johnston refused to voluntarily submit to a breath test or blood sample, so investigators obtained a warrant, according to the arrest report.

For the first time, the new charging affidavit confirms Johnston’s blood alcohol level was .126 seven hours after the crash, which is when the sample was taken.

Johnston appeared in court on Wednesday morning, and her bond remained at $125,000.

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