No for chrissakes, it wasn’t me. It was the other guy.
So I’m on 95 South at mile marker 25 when I come up on some SUV wandering all over the road. Scary wandering. From the right lane to the left shoulder dirt. He almost went off several times. So I figured, “someone’s gonna get killed, I should see if I can’t get the highway patrol”. So I called 911 on my cell, something I’ve never done before. I wasn’t sure who in the heck was going to answer, given that I was out of my home area code. I asked the operator for SC highway patrol and some guy joins the call. I explained what was up and where I was. He wanted a license place number and I said I’d “try”. He said that a patrol car was en route, and suddenly another voice comes on the line. We now have a phone con with 4 participants.
Since I was pulling 5000lb, the thought of getting up close to the lunatic to read his plate was unappealing. It made it harder that the guy’s speed was varying between 70 and 90. I was concerned that he was gonna be a fiery crash any minute and I wouldn’t be able to stop in time. I think I told the highway patrol “ok, I’m gonna get that damn license plate, but he’s speeded up and this is going to be dicey”. Uselessly, in retrospect, I added “I ain’t doing this twice guys”.
It was dark as sin. I thought to myself, “be sure to memorize it the first damn time.” Gritting my teeth, I hustled truck and trailer up close to see the plate. He was all over the road and shoulder in front of me. Anything could fudging happen at this moment, all bad. I read that damn plate and hastily opened up the interval again. “Whew, that was spooky”… I reported the plate number to the various voices on the phone.
“Mile marker 15” I reported. 15mi and we’re out of SC. We’ve been on the phone together now for 10 minutes. One guy is telling the trooper “catch up to them, catch up to them”. The trooper reports, “Jesus, I’m going 120mph, I can’t go faster”. I could hear the racing engine in the background.
The chasing trooper reported each mile marker as he caught up. We also got to hear him yelling at the odd vehicle to “get out of my way, damnit”.
It was like being on tv with “America’s greatest police chases”.
The SUV had a video playing in the back. It made me wonder if there were kids in there.
But rather then be entertained by the phone chatter of encouragements to the trooper to drive faster, I had to watch the swerving SUV really closely. I needed to stay close enough to discourage other cars from getting in between us, but at the same time, I needed enough separation to be able to stop if the guy went off. And I needed to watch him closely enough such that I’d be able to hit my brakes before he crashed, not when he crashed.
“Mile marker 13. WHOAA. Dang, we almost lost him there” I said. The guy swung back off of the shoulder, after almost going off the embankment into the woods below. “We’re going to be out of SC pretty soon now guys, can we coordinate with GA highway patrol”, I said". “No way, we’re going to get him” and determined voice replied.
“Mile marker 10”, I reported. “Can you turn on your flashers on my command”, the dispatch said. “Sure”, I responded.
Each time a car would approach to pass the SUV, he’d abruptly swoop over into their lane. There were probably 20 near collisions in as many minutes.
“Mile marker 8”, I reported.
“I’m almost there, I’m almost there. I think I see you. Hit your flashers, hit your flashers”, was heard over the racing engine.
I gave my flashers button a poke.
“I see them I see them”, heard among engine roars.
And the highway patrol zooms by me and jumps in between us.
“Hey way to go guys, good job on being able to react so fast. Good luck to y’all”, and the concerned citizen drove the last 30min to home.
