2 Women Charged Following Fatal Crash, Road Rage Incident

CLEARWATER, FL -- Two women are facing charges following a road rage and a fatal crash in Clearwater.

According to Clearwater Police, just after 5 p.m. on Saturday, Nicole Zielinski, 29, of Safety Harbor was driving south on South Fort Harrison Avenue near Belleview Boulevard in a Hyundai Accent when she made a left turn in front of a motorcycle driven by Jeffrey Pearl, 56, of Largo.

Pearl was thrown from the motorcycle and died of his injuries at the hospital.

Police said Zielinski showed signs of impairment and failed field sobriety tests. She was arrested and charged with DUI manslaughter. At the time of the crash, her own child and a friend's child were in the car. She also faces child neglect charges. Neither child was injured.

Prior to the crash, Zielinski was the victim of a road rage incident involving Stacey Lynne Maurer, 52, said police. Maurer followed Zielinski to the scene of the motorcycle crash. She then confronted Zielinski and slapped her in the face, according to police.

Maurer has been charged with DUI and battery.