Colleen Zenk, a three-time Emmy-nominated actress known for her role as Barbara Ryan on the soap opera As The World Turns, has been arrested on DUI charges in Collier County, Florida, following an alleged crash with a parked vehicle. The arrest occurred in May 2026, with her arraignment taking place earlier this month.
Incident Details
According to the arrest report, a witness reported that Zenk crashed her car into a parked vehicle while leaving a car park. The witness stated that Zenk was "stumbling" as she exited her vehicle. When officers arrived, they asked Zenk where she had been prior to the crash. She allegedly told them she was at a bar, where she had consumed two wine cups.
Officers reported detecting alcohol on her breath and noted that she had difficulty balancing herself when leaving the car. They then asked her to perform a field sobriety test.
Charges Filed
Zenk was arrested on two charges: driving with an unlawful blood alcohol content (BAC) and causing damage to property, and driving with an unlawful BAC of 0.15 or higher or with a person under 18 in the vehicle. The second charge likely refers to her BAC being above 0.15, as officers noted a dog was in the car but no other people. Video footage of the crash was obtained from a nearby business.
At her arraignment on June 10, 2026, Zenk pleaded not guilty. The case will proceed to trial, with a pre-trial hearing scheduled for late July.
Legal Context
In Florida, DUI offenses can be misdemeanors or felonies. Felony charges apply if the DUI causes serious bodily injury, is a third or subsequent conviction, or results in death. None of these apply to Zenk, so she faces misdemeanor charges. If convicted, she could face up to 12 months in prison and fines between $2,000 and $4,000, given her alleged BAC of 0.15 or higher and this being her second DUI conviction.
In June 2017, Zenk was convicted of driving with an unlawful BAC of 0.15 or higher, receiving a 12-month suspended sentence, 10 days of vehicle impoundment, and 50 days of community service.
Career Background
Zenk played Barbara Ryan on As The World Turns from 1978 until the show ended in 2010, a span of 32 years. She also appeared in the 1982 film Annie and on stage as the titular character in Hello, Dolly!. The Mirror reached out to Zenk's lawyer for comment.
