3-14-2007

We've all seen your typical traffic stop. The lights and sirens go off, someone slowly pulls to the side of the road and talks with the officer. That wasn't the case near 160th and Sandy.

The cops got several calls about an out of control Cadillac swerving all over the road and blowing through stop lights. I say calls about the car because no one could really see a driver behind the wheel.

When officers responded they found a woman in the driver's seat, at times slumped over the wheel and at times looking straight up as her eyes rolled back in her head. She wasn't responding and continued barrelling forward at speeds of 40 miles an hour.

Officers had to use PIT maneuvers normally reserved for stopping a suspect on the run to eventually slow the car down and bring it to a stop (multiple attempts before the vehicle finally stopped completely).

Sgt Dave Steel (one of the officers involved) tells me that when they finally stopped the car, the driver had no idea what was going on and did not recognize the police. When they finally got her out they discovered she was driving with a medically suspended license (why it was suspended is not known).

The driver was taken to the hospital for an evaluation but should be just fine. Sgt Steel tells me she wasn't too happy with him. According to him, the driver said her doctor gave her the OK to drive as long as she took medication (again, medication for what is unknown). But, she says because Sgt Steel stopped her she couldn't get to the grocery store anymore.

Sgt Steel says they did everything in their power to stop the car safely and no one was hurt, but the car could have easily caused a multiple vehicle wreck or killed someone.

Driving with a medically suspended license results in a several hundred dollar fine and a continuation of the suspension.