By Shawn Henry 
Police chases are unpredictable by nature. But it’s rare to see a suspect attempt something usually reserved for trained law enforcement — and actually pull it off.
That’s exactly what unfolded during a high-speed pursuit involving the Florida Highway Patrol when a Chevy Silverado driver escalated a routine traffic stop into something far more dangerous.
The incident began when a trooper clocked the Silverado traveling 98 mph in a 70 mph zone. According to dashcam footage, the truck was also weaving through traffic at high speed. When the trooper activated lights and sirens, the driver didn’t slow down. Instead, he accelerated.
The pursuit quickly intensified. The Silverado continued swerving through traffic as the marked FHP Dodge Charger closed the gap. A second patrol vehicle soon joined the chase, boxing the suspect in from behind.
That’s when the situation took a dramatic turn.
Video shows the Silverado making aggressive lateral movements toward the pursuing cruiser, appearing to anticipate a PIT maneuver. In a sudden move, the truck sideswiped one patrol vehicle, damaging its push bar. Moments later, the driver steered sharply into the rear quarter panel of a pursuing Charger — executing a maneuver similar to the PIT tactic officers are trained to use.
The patrol car spun out.
But the Silverado paid a price.
The impact severely damaged the truck’s front end, and the passenger-side front wheel appeared to shear off during the chaos. Despite the damage, the driver continued fleeing, sparks visible beneath the truck as metal dragged along the pavement.
Driving a crippled full-size pickup at highway speeds is a mechanical time bomb. A disabled axle, broken suspension components, or frame damage can quickly turn into a fire hazard — especially under sustained throttle.
Fortunately, another pursuing unit, reportedly in an unmarked Charger, successfully performed a controlled PIT maneuver that ended the chase before anyone was killed.
After the suspect was taken into custody, authorities reportedly discovered empty liquor bottles and used marijuana products inside the truck. While toxicology results were not immediately available, impairment is suspected to have played a role.
The trooper who was spun out during the encounter survived without fatal injuries — a fact that feels almost miraculous considering the force involved. A vehicle used at high speed is not just transportation; it becomes a multi-thousand-pound weapon.
This wasn’t just reckless driving. It was a deliberate escalation of force on a public highway.
The incident underscores how quickly a routine traffic stop can spiral when speed, aggression, and possible intoxication collide. And while the suspect’s improvised PIT maneuver briefly flipped the script, it ultimately demonstrated the limits of physics — and judgment.
No matter how powerful the vehicle, momentum always wins in the end.
Eve Nowell