“Reverse Smokey and the Bandit” truckers help police stop speeding suspect near Birmingham
By Ryan Lovell
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CALERA, Alabama (WVTM) — A central Alabama police department found itself with some unexpected help toward the end of an early-morning car chase Saturday.
The Calera Police Department said one of its units noticed a vehicle speeding through a construction zone on Interstate 65 around 2:45 a.m. and tried to pull the driver over, but the vehicle continued speeding.
While in pursuit, the Calera police officer saw the vehicle slam on its brakes and leave the interstate. The driver then stopped and was taken into custody.
Calera police said the sudden stop to the chase was due to two 18-wheeler trucks that were driving at the same speed side by side, blocking the suspect.
In a statement, Calera Police Chief David Hyche said in part, “Today, I want to thank these truckers who pulled a reverse ‘Smokey and the Bandit’ move and helped us catch this guy before he killed someone. Truck drivers are the backbone of commerce in our country and are too often taken for granted. These two drivers took action and quite possibly prevented a tragedy.”
The suspect involved in the chase has not been identified, and the charges they face have not been released.
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