Oct. 27--The trucker who led law-enforcement officers from Alabama and Tennessee on a three-county chase Thursday afternoon said he couldn't stop because he had to save us from Hell.
The chase began about noon when the driver -- a Ukrainian-American citizen who lives in Chicago -- failed to stop his 18-wheeler for an officer near Exit 310 in Cullman County.
A 911 caller reported the truck driving unsafely.
Law-enforcement vehicles surrounded the truck with lights flashing and sirens blaring as the pursuit progressed northward through Morgan and Limestone counties.
The chase ended about 12:15 p.m. near the 365 Exit just south of the Alabama-Tennessee state line when the driver -- whose truck tires had been punctured by spike strips that shredded some of them -- could go no further.
When asked at the scene why he did not stop, the so-far unidentified driver said, "I couldn't. I was trying to save you."
When asked from what, he said, "From Hell. I have been there and it is not a place you want to be."
He told The News Courier he was hauling "people to go to the sky" and that he was not worried about injuring others in the chase because of the nature of his mission. He also said he was in a battle between good and evil and that he won.
During a search of the rig's cab, officers found weapons and ammunition. The container he was hauling was empty, one trooper said. The driver, who said he has been in the United States for 11 years, was apparently scraped in the takedown, leaving blood and some bits of grass on his left cheek.
He appeared calm, even a bit bashful, as he stood with hands cuffed and legs shackled beside a state trooper car and answered questions. Troopers removed the shackles from his legs before placing him in the car.
During the chase, officers tried two or three times to stop the driver by rolling spike strips onto the interstate. But, the driver continued, unabated, north on 65 through Morgan and Limestone counties even when some of his were flattened and several disintegrated.
Athens Police Capt. Floyd Johnson said the trucker was driving about 65 on the Interstate by the time it passed Athens, but the rig was difficult for the driver to control because of two flat front tires.
Multiples agencies were involved in the chase, including deputies from Cullman, Morgan and Limestone counties, Athens and Hartselle police, and Alabama and Tennessee state troopers. At least 24 law-enforcement vehicles, two helicopters and an ambulance were at the scene after the rig was pulled over.
Northbound traffic was backed up for miles on 65 with motorists diverted off the interstate at Exit 365 near Ardmore and allowed back on the interstate just past the overpass.
Copyright 2011 - The News Courier, Athens, Ala.
