Early on Monday morning, December 2, in Williamson County, Illinois, a truly remarkable incident unfolded. A driver found herself in a terrifying predicament as her car refused to stop. Just after 2 a.m., she called 911 in a state of panic. Deputies quickly responded and managed to catch up to the car as it was traveling westbound on Old Route 13 near Division Street in Carterville. Remarkably, although the brake lights were visible, the car showed no signs of slowing down and continued at a steady 30 miles per hour.

Deputies' Ingenious Rolling Roadblock

In a daring move, Williamson County Sheriff's deputies employed a rolling roadblock maneuver. Recognizing the danger of the car continuing on its path, they took decisive action. Deputies passed the out-of-control vehicle, positioned themselves in front of it, and then gradually decelerated. This careful approach allowed the front bumper of the runaway car to gently make contact with the rear bumper of a patrol unit. Once in contact, the deputy in the patrol unit applied the brakes, and with a successful maneuver, both vehicles came to a halt.

Location and Near Miss

The car was stopped approximately 1/4 of a mile before reaching Crab Orchard Lake. This close call was a testament to the deputies' quick thinking and skill. As Sheriff Jeff Diederich stated in a Facebook post, "Had the Deputy not been on scene or delayed performing this maneuver, the driver and vehicle would have likely gone into the water upon reaching the lake." Thankfully, no injuries were reported, but out of an abundance of caution, an ambulance crew checked on the driver. It was revealed that the driver was pregnant, adding an extra layer of concern to the situation.

Damage Assessment

After the incident, it was found that the sheriff's patrol unit had no damage, while the runaway car sustained only minor damage. This was a fortunate outcome considering the potential severity of the situation. The Williamson County Sheriff's Office was able to handle the crisis with precision and care, ensuring the safety of both the driver and the community. Their actions serve as a shining example of the dedication and professionalism of law enforcement.