A Washington man was arrested on after he led police on a high-speed chase down I-5 in his 1996 Buick sedan, local publication KOMO News reports.
According to state troopers, the unidentified 51-year old man was driving his 1996 Buick LeSabre when he allegedly struck two vehicles. Police later engaged the suspect in pursuit, leading them on a 100+ mph chase down the interstate before the vehicle left the freeway and entered a small nearby service road.
Police eventually managed to stop the suspect’s vehicle using spike strips. The Lakewood, WA, resident told them he was teaching his pitbull how to drive the Buick four-door when he initially clipped the two vehicles.
“I wish I could make this up,” Washington trooper Heather Axtman told CNN in an interview. “I’ve been a trooper for almost 12 years and wow, I’ve never heard this excuse. I’ve been in a lot of high speed chases, I’ve stopped a lot of cars, and never have I gotten an excuse that they were teaching their dog how to drive.”
The dog, a female pitbull, was taken to an animal shelter after its owner was taken into custody on several charges including driving under the influence, reckless driving, hit-and-run and felony eluding. Axtman described the dog as “very sweet,” despite her owner’s behavior.
KOMO News says it is currently “not clear if the pit bull would be charged in connection with the incident,” although we imagine she will be let off the hook this time around.
A DUI suspect told troopers he was teaching his pit bull how to drive during a chase in which speeds topped 100 mph. https://t.co/4AoaDMoGBp
— KOMO News (@komonews) March 30, 2020
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Source/photo: KOMO News, Washington State Patrol
Comments
I’m pretty sure that’s a Park Avenue not a LeSabre. Shame it made it this far only to come to this.
That’s what I was thinking – it’s a Park Avenue – and those were the days when a Buick was still a Buick and they were built for ‘The Great American Road’. Today Buick is just a repository brand for GM corporate products (mostly old Opels) designed and sourced worldwide and intended primarily for the Chinese.
Maybe that guy wanted to recreate that old Carfax commercial, and maybe that dog saw some ducks… *shrug*
My takeaway: a high speed chase and crash is a poor example for his young K9 driving student.
I’m thinking maybe the dog should have the license,she’s probably smarter than the owner.
Bad dog! Bad dog!