LA County Sheriff's Deputy Marcelo Ruiz used expert driving to stop a runaway vehicle in La Crescenta last week.
According to a release from the LA County Sheriff's Department, deputies on patrol Thursday morning saw a woman driving a Ford Focus frantically trying to get their attention as she drove down a hill in La Crescenta. They raced to catch up to the car as it travelled southbound on Pennsylvania Ave. from Foothill Blvd. and gained speed.
Deputy Ruiz, who was driving a patrol car with his partner, Reserve Deputy Alfred Danelian:
activated his car's red lights and siren, sped up, and eventually caught up to what he believed was a runaway vehicle.
The woman's car continued to pick up speed as it raced through five different red traffic lights with four-way intersections, and many other cars crossing through the intersection in both directions. He raced ahead of the woman's car as she continued to wave at him to get his attention and warn him that her car was out of control.
Deputy Ruiz positioned his patrol car in front of the Ford at over 50 miles per hour, then slowed down as fast as he safely could. Deputy Ruiz said that as he looked in his rear view mirror to continuously position his car correctly, he could "see the terror on her face." He was soon able to bring both cars to a stop near Mills Avenue.
The driver had nearly reached some metal traffic barriers and a sharp curve onto Honolulu Avenue. Without brakes, all agree that she would not have been able to control the car through the turn at the speed she would have been travelling.
Amazingly, no one was injured and there were no traffic collisions. Deputies later checked and found the car's brake fluid reservoir, which appeared to have a leak and was empty. The brakes did not work.
The driver, a 51-year old African-American resident of Tujunga, told deputies that she was "very very grateful," and kept repeatedly thanking them saying, "God Bless you" and "thank God you were here." She also apologized for the minor scratch on the deputy's bumper. Deputy Ruiz said told her that they were "just glad she was okay," and "let's just forget about the bumper."
Sgt. Gary Ogurek, Crescenta Valley Sheriff's Station, said "the Sheriff's Department doesn't necessarily practice techniques on how to stop runaway vehicles, but Deputy Ruiz has a lot of driving experience." Sgt. Ogurek added, "he just happened to be the right person at the right place at the right time. We're proud of him."
