Making bad decisions can have devastating consequences, not only for the person making the decision but also for others involved.
Watching a police chase is a guilty pleasure for many people. However, it is important to recognize that these pursuits are not only entertaining, but also highly dangerous for everyone involved. Recently, a wrong-way driver found out the hard way just how risky it can be to try and escape the police by driving against traffic.
Running from the police is typically not a wise decision. Law enforcement agencies have various resources at their disposal, such as backup units, air support, surveillance cameras, and tire deflation devices (TDDs). Despite these deterrents, some drivers still opt to flee from the flashing lights and sirens. Unfortunately, such attempts often end tragically.
One Arizona driver recently found themselves in a dangerous situation while trying to evade the police. According to azcentral, the driver was traveling south in the wrong direction on Interstate 17 in Phoenix. Instead of pursuing the car, the police wisely decided not to engage in a high-speed chase. Despite this, the driver continued to drive recklessly by maneuvering along the inside shoulder of the highway, causing other drivers to swerve and avoid a collision.
The police chase suddenly came to a halt at approximately 2:00 a.m. when the driver collided with another vehicle, resulting in severe damage to both cars. Sadly, the driver succumbed to his injuries. In a tragic turn of events, a passenger in the other vehicle also lost their life in the devastating crash.
Wrong-way crash and police chases have a devastating impact on the lives of drivers, resulting in fatalities and injuries. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), over 300 individuals lose their lives in wrong-way crashes annually. Shockingly, police chases prove to be even deadlier than incidents involving drivers going against traffic.
According to USA Today, police chases result in loss of life nearly every day. Since 1979, over 11,500 people have lost their lives in high-speed pursuits and chases. What’s even more troubling is that a significant number of these fatalities were not the offenders themselves, but innocent bystanders.