For decades, police tactical units have been equipping themselves with increasingly imposing vehicles to more easily end confrontations with dangerous criminals. But a California SWAT team learned the hard way that even the most intimidating truck can meet its match – in this case, a semi-trailer cab.
An Unusual Police Chase in Orange County
This chase in Orange County lasted nearly an hour this Wednesday as police attempted to stop two men fleeing in what appears to be an International LT cab. Toward the end of the pursuit, the duo slowed down to retrieve an object resembling a keychain or USB drive from the roof of a parked Hyundai Tucson. Police took advantage of this slowdown to take action.
The SWAT Truck’s Attempted Interception
Positioning itself in front of the heavy truck, the SWAT truck attempted to ram the side of the cab as the duo entered a parking lot. The impact was violent enough to make the semi’s tires skid, pushing it sideways against the rear of a parked SUV. Despite the force of the collision, the heavy truck seemed to simply ignore the attack and continued on its way.
Limited Damage Despite the Impact
Upon close observation, however, damage is evident. As the semi moves away from the SWAT truck, liquid can be seen flowing onto its tires, leaving a wet trail on the pavement. This suggests the impact punctured one of the International’s side fuel tanks. After the truck returned to the public road, it can be seen continuing to intermittently lose fuel while its occupants continued to flee.
An Anticlimactic End to the Chase
Fortunately or unfortunately depending on perspective, the chase ended much less dramatically than this incident suggested. Just five minutes after this episode, the duo found themselves boxed in by police at a very busy intersection. Unable to flee further, they surrendered peacefully.
This incident doesn’t even rank in the top five strangest police chases recently documented, but it remains rare to see an intervention vehicle bounce off its target. Enjoy this unusual spectacle while it lasts.