A Florida woman told deputies an SUV had struck her Honda in a hit-and-run crash, but investigators say she had actually driven into a street sign. What followed was a DUI arrest and a trip to the hospital, where she allegedly punched a nurse, tried to bite a deputy, and repeatedly kicked him.
Melissa Delaney, 32, of Palm Coast, was arrested October 16 after deputies responded to the reported crash on Palm Coast Parkway NE in Flagler County.
According to the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, Delaney denied drinking despite showing several signs of impairment and became combative when deputies attempted to conduct field sobriety exercises.
By the end of the evening, she faced three criminal charges, including two felonies, and hospital records showed a blood alcohol concentration of .192, more than twice Florida’s legal driving limit.
The SUV Story Falls Apart
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Deputies responded to the reported hit-and-run near 360 Palm Coast Parkway NE at approximately 5:19 p.m., where Delaney claimed an unknown SUV had struck her gray 2010 Honda Civic. According to the sheriff’s office, investigators determined that she had instead collided with a street sign.
Delaney told Deputy Christopher Murphy she was returning home from European Village and denied consuming alcohol that evening. Murphy, however, reported smelling alcohol on her breath and observing watery eyes, slurred speech, a flushed face, and difficulty maintaining her balance.
Although she initially agreed to field sobriety exercises, Delaney allegedly became agitated as the deputy prepared to begin the evaluation and shoved Master Deputy Faircloth.
Deputies handcuffed her and transported her to AdventHealth for medical clearance before taking her to jail.
The Hospital Visit Takes Another Turn
At the hospital, Delaney requested medical treatment following the crash but reportedly became increasingly aggressive toward the staff evaluating her. According to Murphy’s arrest affidavit, the examining physician determined that sedation was necessary to provide appropriate medical care.
During the examination, Delaney allegedly struck a nurse in the chest with both fists while attempting to push her away. When Murphy intervened, she reportedly tried to bite him and struck him in the chest with her right hand.
The deputy said the confrontation continued as he restrained her arms against the hospital bed, with Delaney repeatedly kicking and striking him with her feet. The nurse subsequently indicated that she wanted to pursue criminal charges.
After hospital personnel cleared Delaney for transport, deputies took her to the Flagler County jail.
Another Reading Later That Night
Hospital paperwork documented a blood alcohol concentration of .192 from a sample collected at 7:29 p.m., well above Florida’s .08 legal driving threshold.
Nearly four hours later, Delaney provided two breath samples at the jail, registering .086 and .084. Both remained above the legal limit, although they were substantially lower than the earlier hospital result. The arrest affidavit does not establish why the readings differed.
Murphy also reported finding no previous DUI offenses in Delaney’s driving history.
Delaney was charged with DUI involving property damage, battery on a law enforcement officer, and battery on an emergency medical care provider. Jail records show she was released October 18 after posting bonds totaling $12,500.
Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly criticized the alleged attacks on the nurse and deputy, warning that the crash could have had far more serious consequences.
“This time it was a street sign. Next time it could be a family on their way home,” Staly said.
All parties are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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