A Terrifying North Carolina Car Accident Follows High-Speed Police Chase on I-40
It was a Valentine’s Day North Carolina car accident/police chase that left hearts pounding across the state.
According to North Carolina Highway Patrol reports, 35-year old Steven Earl Purnell was stopped on the 1900 block of Poole Road in Garner. It seemed like a routine stop. The officer on the scene checked out Purnell’s record and found that he had outstanding warrants for speeding and driving with a revoked license. The officer prepared to place Purnell under arrest. But… the driver did not cooperate! Instead, he threw his car into reverse and backed up, pinning the officer against the driver’s side door. Purnell took off. (Fortunately, the officer escaped serious injury.)
As the suspect fled, the police began a pursuit on Interstate 40 east. Raleigh police eventually stopped involvement and handed things over to Garner police, who took over the pursuit around marker 308 on I-40. At some point shortly after this transition, Purnell’s car blew a tire and crashed. It’s unclear why the tire blew out – did the police lay anti-tire strips on the section of road, or did the tire give out because of the stress of the chase? From the early news reports from places like NBC 17, it’s impossible to tell.
What lessons can be learned from this Valentine’s Day North Carolina car accident?
Here are three:
1. Scared, threatened drivers often panic and make dangerous decision after dangerous decision.
These misjudgments can imperil not just their own safety, but also the safety of everyone else on North Carolina roads.
2. Seemingly minor, mundane events can spontaneously and unexpectedly escalate into serious misadventures.
The police officer who stopped Purnell probably had no idea that the suspect would react so wildly. What started out as a non-newsworthy situation rapidly escalated into a massive police chase that could have ended much more tragically. Fortunately, no fatalities were reported, although Purnell did get taken to WakeMed with injuries.
3. If you were hurt in an accident, get help sooner than later.
An experienced North Carolina car accident law firm, for instance, can help you unravel who might be responsible for your suffering and vehicle damage and advise you about how to get compensation, justice, and the best rehabilitation.
More Web Resources:
A Police Chase Ends in Accident on I-40 in Garner
When Routine Traffic Stops Go Awry
