Jacksonville, FL — The Florida Highway Patrol is encouraging witnesses to the crash on I-95 early Sunday which left Jacksonville Officer William "Jack" Adams in the hospital with critical injuries to come forward.
The Adams family was on their way back from a football game in Orlando when they were hit by a suspected drunk driver on I-95 north near State Road 16. Troopers say Adams' wife, Cathy Adams, a JSO bailiff, died after the crash and the couple's two children only had minor injuries.
We are looking for more information or witnesses to this crash. If anyone has information about this or saw anything regarding this tragedy, please let us know. Please contact *347 or 904-359-6572 & ask to speak with our THI investigators. Thank you for your help. https://t.co/lcSOuJZgpi
— FHPJacksonville (@FHPJacksonville) December 10, 2018
The suspected drunk driver Kim Johnston is out of jail after bonding out. Our news partners at Action News Jax were there when she walked out, and she has a message for the family.
“I’m very sorry”, Johnston said.
According to an arrest report, Johnston had bloodshot watery eyes and a strong odor of alcoholic beverage emanating from her breath. Johnston refused to provide a voluntary sample of her blood, and later declined a breathalyzer, according to the report.
She did, however, perform a series of field sobriety exercises and, as the report details, she failed to walk heel to toe on several steps. She cited a preexisting injury would prevent her from standing on one leg and putting her finger to her nose.
While being checked out at the emergency room, Johnston told medical personnel that she had two beers earlier in the evening, according the arrest report.
There are efforts underway to help the Adams family moving forward. In addition to efforts by the local FOP, Jaguars Quarterback Blake Bortles says he will match up to $15,000 of the money donated to help the family.
The Florida Highway Patrol arrest report says Officer Adams was believed to have suffered numerous bone breaks and possible paralysis following the crash. As of Tuesday morning, he was still in critical care at Memorial Hospital.
#BlakeBortles has announced that he will match up to $15k of all funds raised in respect for JSO bailiff Cathy Adams, former Marine & @JSOPIO Officer William Adams, & their 2 children in this time of tragedy.
— Blake Bortles Foundation (@BB5Foundation) December 10, 2018
Donate here by Fri. 12/14 at 5pm: https://t.co/wbS7ALv166 pic.twitter.com/TiYxYfytYv