Posted on 05/03/2022 6:46:41 PM PDT by simpson96
It was “Fast & Furious” in real life.
A lead-footed Florida driver led stunned cops on one of the longest and most dangerous police pursuits in recent history, hitting speeds of up to 180 mph and spanning hundreds of miles through several counties.
“The danger to innocent lives related to this crime cannot be overstated,” the Martin County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement Tuesday.
The chaos came to a halt after Richard St. Leger, 20, of Pompano Beach, finally ditched his stolen Mercedes SUV and fled into thick woods where he was tracked down by a police dog, officials said.
St. Leger, who was riding with a passenger, first fled pursuing officers in Orange County before flying through the counties of Osceola, Indian River, Okeechobee, St. Lucie and finally Martin.
The speed demon blew through several attempted traffic stops, and deputies suspended their ground pursuit at one point because the dangerously high speeds posed a risk to civilians.
But cops continued to track St. Leger with aviation units and made preparations to bring the terrifying joyride to a conclusion.
Martin County sheriff’s deputies set up “stop sticks” in St. Leger’s path as he zoomed around at 150 mph with his headlights off, the agency said. He drove directly over the devices and popped the car’s tires.
St. Leger abandoned the disabled vehicle and disappeared on foot into nearby woods with officers and police dogs in pursuit.
Despite being cornered, he still refused to surrender. Deputies sent a K-9 named Zorro into the remote area and the dog made the final collar.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
I hear ya. Fastest I’ve ever pushed my T-Bird was 105 on I-95, and only for maybe a second and a half. It had plenty left but I didn’t.
And as a pre-88 it didn’t have a speed limiter, but that doesn’t mean my brain doesn’t.
been 155-160 on two wheels...much different
All these years I never knew Larry.
“ditched HIS stolen Mercedes SUV???”
How is the stolen Mercedes HIS?
Mine’s 26 y.o.
Replaced the alternator...
I was a passenger in a 1970 Chevelle SS 396/375HP, Cowl Induction, TH-400 AT that had “some” modifications under the hood and Bilstein Shocks, I don’t remember the Tire/wheel combo but iirc it was BFG Radials on Stock SS rims.
We were chasing someone down Hwy 290 out of Austin, TX and We were blowing down the road with the speedometer needle on the backside of the Zero pin and still had Throttle left to use. We figured that We were going 160+ when We caught up with them.
< /backintheday >
I’ve only been faster in an Aircraft.
He should have been tracked with a helicopter at a distance to the side and rear or his own GPS and intercepted when he left the highway. He would not likely have kept that speed if he did not perceive chase cars. If they identify the high end newer car and/or driver from the license plate then they can get his GPS coordinates from the feds quickly and track him thusly. Modern cars have GPS locaters constantly transmitting in them and someone with such a vehicle surely has a smart phone that also provides a GPS signal. The car GPS is one of a couple of reasons that I will never own a car newer than about 1985. Better to use the money for a new car to get an old car and have it restored.
The most I have ever done was about 105 on my Yamaha trying to see how fast a Navy Ground Effects vehicle really was that was paralleling me on the water. The Navy allowed as how those things were capable of 75 mph. At 105 the thing was still leaving me. At 105 I shut it down because I was approaching the far end of a long bridge and a traffic light.
I am downsized to a Suzuki 654 single. I don’t do any road travel any more so The Suki is nice.
I had a ‘64 Corvair Spyder. The speedometer said 140mph. And I don’t know.
Forgot about that one. Thanks.
Back in the 70’s I went to high school with a guy who drove a new Monte Carlo. The speedos were round. He claims he wound the needle past the 120 top speed shown and started back up the other side... Never was sure about that story, but that car was FAST.
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