Posted on 07/26/2007 12:12:33 PM PDT by the_devils_advocate_666
THIS plucky pensioner led police on a low-speed chase around Middlesbrough [UK] - and then gave officers the slip.
The lukewarm pursuit started after he caused traffic chaos by crawling down the fast lane of a busy dual carriageway.
Police asked the stubborn senior citizen to pull over. But he defiantly cranked his battery-powered mobility scooter up to its top speed - 8mph - and somehow managed to escape their attention.
Engineer, Ian Hardy, from Darlington said he couldn’t believe his eyes as he watched the chase unfold on the A1032 Newport Bridge Approach Road on Monday afternoon.
“It was just incredible,” said Ian, of Darlington, who captured the action on camera. “It was so bizarre. He came along in the outside lane with a queue of traffic behind him and a panda car to his left.
“Most motorists were having a bit of a laugh. It was so strange. You don’t expect something like that on a busy road. It was like a bit of a circus.
“The police tried to pull him up but he issued them with a lot of profanities.”
Then the determined OAP veered onto the Cannon Park roundabout where he gave red-faced officers the slip.
“They asked us, ‘scuse me - have you seen a bloke on an electric scooter?’,” added Ian, who was on a walk at the time.
“The two in the police car looked a bit sheepish to have lost a battery-powered scooter. I bet they’ll be the toast of the nick.”
A police van joined the pursuit and when cops eventually caught up with the pensioner, he was escorted to safety.
“Where they went from there, I can’t imagine,” said Ian.
Cleveland Police confirmed that the man eventually pulled over and officers spoke to him and helped him get out of harm’s way.
Traffic cop, PC Steve Garner, who was not involved in the chase, said the scooter was road legal, although some are not.
“There are two types - class two and class three. Class two is limited to 4mph and generally stays on footpaths. Class three is limited to 8mph and can go on roads or footpaths.”
I think alcohol may have been involved.
The scene from “Seinfeld” w/ Constanza on a Rascal being “chased” by several angry retirees comes to mind...
When scooters are outlawed......
I didn’t see that episode, did George get away? This guy amazingly managed to escape his pursuers!
Something that's only capable of 8MPH and offers the driver zero protection can be road legal? Is this satire?
Bobby problem
Is a Segway road legal over in the UK?
He should’ve used a white Bronco.
Okay, what’s an OAP?
Straight out of The Thin Blue Line
here’s one for your not-a-ping list
I’m not sure. I think a segway can go faster than 8mph, though.
Missed PIT maneuver opportunity ping...8>)
Thanks, and how about a translation for this line: “I bet they’ll be the toast of the nick.” What’s a “nick”?
Nick - Police Station
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