Moment trucker hits people while fleeing cops in busy Atlanta intersection
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A truck driver ran over a group of pedestrians while fleeing from an officer who caught him performing donuts in the middle of a busy Atlanta intersection, police said.
Shocking video uploaded to social media shows a black Ford F150 pickup truck circling the intersection of 17th Street and Northside Drive on Sunday evening, surrounded by stalled traffic and spectators.
The people filming the street takeover from afar could be heard cheering as a Georgia state trooper arrives, but the truck quickly pivots and rushes a group of spectators as a result.
Several of the people could be seen getting hit by the truck, with others barely able to jump out of the way.
Appearing to react to the driver’s recklessness, the trooper speeds up and hits the F150, performing a pit maneuver, turning the truck and forcing it to stop.
The officer then pulls out his weapon and jumps on the hood of his car, grabbing the suspect by the arm and dragging him out of the truck.
The driver doesn’t appear to resist, putting his hands up as the officer turns him over and cuffs him.
At least one of the pedestrians hit by the truck suffered an injury that required medical assistance, WSBTV reports.
The Georgia State Patrol said the trooper, who was not named, was near the intersection when he caught the street takeover and moved in to stop the truck.
Street takeovers have become an increasing problem in large cities in recent years, with wannabe stunt drivers performing dangerous tricks with their vehicles in the middle of the road.
While their popularity soared during the pandemic when few drivers were out and about, the stunts continue in busy streets, particularly in Los Angeles.
The LAPD reported there were 7,654 such takeovers in 2021, and about 4,899 in 2022. The statistics for 2023 have yet to be made available.
Warning: Distressing content
During the Memorial Day weekend, officers busted two such takeovers where drivers were doing donuts at intersections while launching fireworks out of the windows.
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