@maddy.universe: Two Alabama Truckers Block Fleeing Driver Side-by-Side on I-65, Forcing Him to Surrender; Police Chief Calls It a ‘Reverse Smokey and the Bandit’ Two 18-wheeler drivers brought a police pursuit on Interstate 65 to a sudden stop in the early morning hours of Saturday by pulling alongside each other at equal speed and blocking the fleeing vehicle's path, forcing the suspect to slam on his brakes, exit the interstate, and surrender to officers. A Calera Police Department officer spotted a vehicle traveling at high speed through a construction zone on I-65 around 2:45 a.m. on October 17. After the officer activated lights and sirens, the driver continued south at high speed, passing cars recklessly. Chilton County and Jemison units were notified and prepared to assist. The pursuing officer then watched the suspect vehicle suddenly lock up its brakes in a cloud of tire smoke. The driver exited the interstate, stopped, and was taken into custody. The reason for the abrupt stop, two 18-wheelers had been traveling side by side at equal speed, cutting off the fleeing driver's escape route. Faced with nowhere to go, he gave up. Calera Police Chief Hyche publicly thanked the truckers for what he called a reverse Smokey and the Bandit moment. "I often thank our citizens for assisting us by reporting criminal behavior and being our eyes on the street. Today, I want to thank these truckers who pulled a reverse Smokey and the Bandit move and helped us catch this guy before he killed someone," Chief Hyche said. "Truck drivers are the backbone of commerce in our country and are too often taken for granted. These two drivers took action and quite possibly prevented a tragedy. Law enforcement is ineffective without the trust and partnership of the community."

Maddy

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Sunday 18 October 2026 19:40:11 GMT