Another freaking accident - with a high speed chase!

[youngnastyman]

Had quite an adventure this weekend so please excuse me for ranting. This past Saturday I finally coughed up the dough and had a full service detail done to my car - claybar, wash, wax, sealant, full interior detail, the works. Anyhow later on that day my girlfriend and I were going out on the the town, and planned to hit up the quarterly BMW meet in Houston. On our way, some a-hole on the freeway in a Jeep Wrangler decides he wants to turn into my lane, and side swipes my car leaving a huge tire/rim mark on my door, rear quarterpanel and sideskirt. I tried to flag him down but the guy wouldn't stop. I even pulled up next to him, honked my horn and tried to get him to pull over and he just flicked a cigarette at me.

Then the chase began. I started following him and got 911 on the phone. I told them what happened and they connected me to the sergeant and they wanted me to stay behind him. The guy figured out I was following him and tried to evade me LOL. He was driving like a d-bag, cutting across lanes, running all over town over several different highways. Several times I thought the guy was going to wipe out and either hurt himself or someone else. I chased the guy for 30 minutes with the police close behind me. At one point, he smashed into a light pole, backed up, and kept going. Finally, he tried to sneak away and park in a grocery store parking lot, but I saw him go in there. Then he burns out of the parking lot and goes the WRONG WAY down a 1 way street. By this time there were 4 cop cars behind me and I pointed out where he went. Finally I could slow my role, I drove a few blocks and they had him cornered.

In hindsight, I still can't figure out why the guy was such a jackass and started running. If he had just stopped we would've just exchanged info and the police wouldn't have even had to get involved. I filed a claim with his insurance today, and the adjuster was even shocked to hear the story. I do wish I could have recorded some of the chase though - not every day you see a bright red M3 flying down a street c with 4 cop cars on his tail chasing down a douchebag in a jeep.

[kchu221]

damn.. sorry to hear that! was the chase fun? im just kidding, but that a douche bag... he made the problem bigger then it should be!

[Siciliano611]

not sure if serious....storytime?

[youngnastyman]

Originally Posted by Siciliano611

not sure if serious....storytime?

wish it was... this is the 2nd time my car has been hit in less than a month.

[1sikbmr]

only in texas? haha

[bates1325]

Wouldn't just getting his tag have been easier?

[DRbimma]

Originally Posted by SehrSchnell

So the cops told you to chase him? Yeah, I don't think so... :

+1

[youngnastyman]

yea but you cant really do much with just the license plate. How would I have used that to figure out his insurance company and all that? Not to mention the plates couldve been in someone else's name.

But yea they pretty much told me to follow him. In Houston they won't do anything from a license plate, they need to stop the guy with you there as a witness for the charges to stick.

[youngnastyman]

Originally Posted by SehrSchnell

So the cops told you to chase him? Yeah, I don't think so... :

riight so i made up this long story for fun? that makes much more sense.

[kchu221]

Originally Posted by youngnastyman

yea but you cant really do much with just the license plate. How would I have used that to figure out his insurance company and all that? Not to mention the plates couldve been in someone else's name.

But yea they pretty much told me to follow him. In Houston they won't do anything from a license plate, they need to stop the guy with you there as a witness for the charges to stick.

when i was involved in a hit and run here in cali, the first thing i did was take a pciture of the fuckers license plate, and then i called 911. they told me that i didnt need to follow him and that they can find the car just with the license plate number. then i called my insurance to file my claim, and they found out the drivers full info just by looking up the plate number.

[youngnastyman]

damn.. well i had a pic of his license plate but they told me to follow his ass. and follow i did.

[kawasaki00]

I know in NC if you chase him and he wrecks it is your fault. I had a buddie that got side swiped in a Lexus IS350 and the 911 dispatch told him that.

[crabman]

Originally Posted by SehrSchnell

You making up the story is more plausible than a law enforcement officer telling a civilian to chase a car that was involved in a minor fender bender, putting tons of other motorists (you including you) at great risk. I call BS.

Not sure how it works in Texas but here in WA I was behind a drunk driver and called him in to the state patrol. I told them the where/what details and that I was well behind him at a safe distance (had my children in the car) and they asked that I continue until they had a car on scene. Made no mention of not attempting to chase him but in the situation there was no chase anyways so it may be that it simply didn't come up.

As to this story, gotta admit my BSometer has climbed toward redline and outside of it being Texas where they can be pretty old school in places prolly would have hit the limiter.

[tlp]

Wow I like the ending... Subscribed for pics!

[surlynkid]

it's houston. everyone drive like an idiot on the highways here. when i am in my 3/4 ton, lifted 4x4, no worries, but anything little is dangerous.

[youngnastyman]

Originally Posted by SehrSchnell

You making up the story is more plausible than a law enforcement officer telling a civilian to chase a car that was involved in a minor fender bender, putting tons of other motorists (you including you) at great risk. I call BS.

Well I guess everyone has a right to their own opinion. I gain nothing by convincing you that what I said actually happened.

Have a nice day.

[youngnastyman]

Originally Posted by SehrSchnell

Driving behind a drunk driver at normal speed is totally different, since the drunk driver is a great danger to everybody on the road. So in that case you following him made total sense. Having a unskilled civilian conduct a high speed chase because of a minor fender bender is something no dispatcher, or cop would recommend - ever.

I'm not sure the cops were aware it was a high speed chase. I'm not even sure what is considered a high speed chase (we were going about 80-90). Although I did tell them he was driving like an idiot and swerving lanes. At no point during the call did they ever tell me to back off until the very end when the cops spotted him.

[Giccy]

'Merica FTW.

In Canada, our cops don't even give chase......

[konaforever]

Only thing better would have been you having a Gopro to record this epic chase!

[youngnastyman]

^ +1 - wish i could have a video..

should i have chased the guy? prob not. Was it safe? Hell no! But at the time I wanted to make him stop and accept responsiblity for f'ing up my car. The cops made no indication that I shouldn't have been following him, and they were on the phone with me the whole time as I spat out our location and what the guy was doing the whole time.

Luckily nobody got hurt and I didnt cause any additional damage to me, my car or anyone else.

[tibra1]

Originally Posted by SehrSchnell

So the cops told you to chase him? Yeah, I don't think so... :

I know right..and then what happend after the cops caught him..story is kinda of lacking

[babbs]

I'm suprised the dispatcher didn't tell you to shoot him. I lived in Houston fir 4 years, and given the details and how The wonderful country of Texas is, it sounds legit. Texas is very unique.