Pantagraph.com | News | Police chase results in rush-hour accidents

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

I am: wrote on Mar 22, 2007 6:44 PM:

" one of those people on those motorcycles that day! Yes someone was watching over us Monday night. I was the in the middle and had no idea what was coming my way. In that moment when the car was next to me then in front of me all i could think was "oh my God" The front rider to which 'a friend of a witness' mentioned fortunately JUST got is arm clipped. That man was out of control and yes there was a police car just one car behind us and did nothing. Didn't even stop to see if we were ok. He just drove on by like everything was normal. It makes me think if he would have stopped if we had been hit, worse. We have to remember too this maniac is still out there somewhere. They haven't caught him yet. Luckily we all made it home safe and I was able to kiss my daughter and husband goodnight. "

friend of a witness wrote on Mar 22, 2007 7:56 AM:

" My friend was riding his motorcycle at the time up near College Ave and the car theif clipped his arm. God was looking out for him that day.... A couple of his friends on motorcycles behind him narrowly escaped getting hit as well. They said a police car was in the left lane and didn't do a thing, even after the car veered off the road in plain sight. Maybe if the muffler was loud he would have given chase... "

Where is a car thief when you need one? wrote on Mar 21, 2007 8:54 PM:

" It's too bad when he was flying down Main he didn't pick off a couple of those snot-nosed college kids who think they're too good to obey the lights. I had one walk out in front of me and while I'm slamming on the brakes she turns and looks right at me with a big smirk on her face. That is one reason I question passing a law to carry a concealed weapon - cause if I'd had a gun there's a good chance I would have used it! "

To Rush Hour wrote on Mar 21, 2007 5:02 PM:

" You must be joking! Any person who considers traffic in Bloomington-Normal a rush must be a country bumkin. I drive all over the United States from Chicago, to Los Angeles and the only problem in Bloomington-Normal is that a vast majority do not know how to drive. I would suspect rush hour that you are one of those 37 MPH hazards drving down veterans parkway in the middle lane too terrifed to change lanes or speed up. The only obstacle in this town are the farmers who come in from Hooterville and seem to think it takes three lanes of traffic to make a right hand turn, and periscope drivers who can not see above the steering wheel. These are the accident factors in this town, not the people who believe in getting where they are going. Rush hour in this town? Try driving somewhere that does have traffic rush hour. "

Props wrote on Mar 21, 2007 1:29 PM:

" C'mom give the police officers some PROPS. If these police officers had chased this car thief and caused someone life, you all would be here bashing the cops for that. "

Captain Fantastic wrote on Mar 21, 2007 1:19 PM:

" I wasn't complaining...I like the light traffic here. I used to live/work/commute in the Chicago area, and I'm glad to be living in this area. But, please, you can't call anything around here a rush hour, unless, as somebody said before, that you're trying to get out of SF's parking lot! "

Jon wrote on Mar 21, 2007 12:48 PM:

" Thank You, Normal Police. I'm glad the officers had the foresight not to chase this guy around ISU's campus where people could have been injured. You made a very smart decision in this case. "

I agree w/ A Witness wrote on Mar 21, 2007 12:37 PM:

" My brother was riding his motorcycle North-bound on Main Street that day. He said that he almost died because some idiot ran his car out into traffic and got SO CLOSE to his bike that he actually TOUCHED his leg. Thank GOD that didn't crash. My bro said that he was SO CLOSE that he saw exactly what color sweatpants and shirt the driver was wearing. Of course, my bro contacted the police right away. As far as commenting on a "rush hour". I live on Hovey in Normal and it is possible that one would need to plan a 30 minute drive to the South end of town during "rush hour". So To: Capt Fantastic & your friend from D.C.: why don't you move to a bigger city where you can REALLY complain about the small town you used to live in. PEACE OUT! "

Hey Pantagraph! wrote on Mar 21, 2007 10:25 AM:

" Nice headline. What "police chase" was there? Sounds like the officer attempted a traffic stop and when the suspect didn't stop, the officer thought better of it for the sake of the public given the amount of traffic. Way to sensationalize the headline to make this daily rag more interesting. "

TO: priorities wrote on Mar 21, 2007 9:58 AM:

" Amen brother! Especially if the cops giving chase hadn't got their mandatory quota yet. "

A Witness wrote on Mar 21, 2007 9:51 AM:

" You know what people. None of you were actually there so you have no idea what happened. If that cop wouldn't have stopped then someone would have gotten killed. The guy that was driving the stolen car was a maniac. He was weaving in and out of traffic, he's lucky he didn't take out one of the motorcyclists or worse, a pedestrian. Next time you want to bash on the police or make judgments about the traffic, just remember that all there was was a few fender benders, not another obituary in the paper. "

To:Rush Hour?? wrote on Mar 21, 2007 9:45 AM:

" You gotta be kidding me, What are you like 70? "

Pink Floyd wrote on Mar 21, 2007 9:19 AM:

" They gave up the chase since he wasn't smoking! "

priorities wrote on Mar 21, 2007 8:59 AM:

" He would have been in BIG trouble if he would have had a loud muffler or stereo in Bloomington! "

otis wrote on Mar 21, 2007 8:45 AM:

" sounds like its better to give up the chase then get someone killed "

matt horton wrote on Mar 21, 2007 8:19 AM:

" kudos to the normal police department. if the susupect had been at a keg party they surely would have busted him, but since he was committing a real crime, of course, they were not quite able to actually solve the case. "

Rush Hour?? wrote on Mar 21, 2007 7:38 AM:

" That is all day long here in Bloomington/Normal. If you are on Veterans at any point in time during the day it is like being in the Indy 500 which is the same on Main street. It is like everyone is in such a hurry to go no where. "

I have to agree with wrote on Mar 21, 2007 6:50 AM:

" Capt. Fantastic!!! Try living in Washington, D.C.!! I get a kick from "rush hour" traffic. That just entails SF employees leaving their parking lot. And if he was heading North, wasn't there a cop ahead of the car that could have been called. It's not like he was turning here and there. He headed straight for 55. "

LEO wrote on Mar 21, 2007 6:45 AM:

" Doesnt sound like a "chase". Sounds like they tried to make a traffic stop on him, he didnt stop and fled, so they ceased trying to stop him. He then crashed. Should the cops not even bother trying to stop the car next time, because he may flee? "

I agree...... wrote on Mar 21, 2007 6:07 AM:

" Rush Hour???? Does that have anything to do with the 'Radio Host'? "

Captain Fantastic wrote on Mar 21, 2007 12:00 AM:

" I think it's funny how it was called "rush hour." Come on...it's Bloomington-Normal. Instead of 12 minutes to get across town, it takes 14, that qualifies as rush hour?? "

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