Constables, Truck Driver Rescue Family From Runaway Vehicle

May 28, 2024 - Precinct 5 Constables were engaged in a high-speed rescue involving a runaway vehicle Monday, May 27, 2024 that traveled through the northern part of Shelby County.

Josh Tipton, Shelby County Constable Precinct 5, reports being contacted by the Shelby County Sheriff’s Department alerting he and Deputy Constable John Pope that a white Toyota Corolla was approaching Shelby County from Nacogdoches on U.S. Highway 59.

Nacogdoches County emergency services had transferred the 911 call from the husband of the woman behind the wheel of the runaway vehicle to Shelby County.

It was reported to dispatch that the vehicle was stuck in drive, the brakes were not working and the vehicle was reaching speeds of 90 mph.

“There was a lady in a small white car which was hung in drive, brakes wasn’t working,”said Constable Tipton. “She couldn’t stop, she couldn’t put the car in neutral, nothing. [Her husband] was trying to drive ahead of her and clear traffic so that she didn’t wreck.”

The constables were at their office in Timpson when they received the call, and they responded as a two-man unit in one of their vehicles.

Traveling on the southbound side of U.S. 59, the constables passed the Toyota and moved in behind it with lights and sirens from then on as it traveled northbound, and to try to make it safer for everyone traveling the highway.

A dark colored Yukon SUV, driven by the husband of the driver of the Toyota, was traveling behind and attempting to get other vehicles out of the way.

Deputy Constable Pope was at the wheel of the patrol unit, while Constable Tipton managed communications with other emergency personnel, dispatch and the driver of the Toyota. As the Toyota was approaching Timpson, Deputy Constable Pope traveled ahead into Timpson to stop traffic at the traffic light through town. 

As the Toyota entered the Timpson city limits, it did so on the wrong side of the highway where U.S. Highways 59 and 84 meet.

“At that time we were able to get ahead and the light was green and stayed green, and at that point we let her get back in front of us,” said Constable Tipton.

The light being green decreased the potential for tragedy as the Toyota traveled at high speed through Timpson.

The constables got the man driving the SUV to finally back off and that reduced the number of vehicles involved leaving just the constables and the driver of the Toyota.

“We had him back off away from the runaway vehicle, that way it was just Constable Pope and I and the runaway vehicle at that point driving at that speed,” said Constable Tipton. “We wanted to eliminate as much hazard as we could.”

Once again as the runaway approached a municipality, Tenaha, Constable Pope accelerated over 100 mph to outrun the Toyota to the next stop light intersection due to concerns it could be red. Once again the light was green as the Toyota traveled through the intersection.

As the runaway route between Tenaha and Joaquin became clear of traffic, and the vehicle was reaching speeds over 100 mph,.

Constable Tipton remained in constant contact with Shelby County dispatch and requested information on travel speed and any other details be passed along to DeSoto Parish, Panola County and Texas Department of Public Safety.

Deputy Constable Pope maneuvered the patrol unit in front of the Toyota to allow the driver to hit the rear of the truck in attempts to slow down.

It wasn’t until the vehicles had passed through Tenaha, and the constables had maneuvered behind the vehicle again, that they would learn of a fact that would change everything. In addition to the driver, dispatch alerted the vehicle was occupied by three children.

“At that point the game plan changed, if we would have known the three small kids were in the vehicle at the time then I’m sure [we] would have just let her hit the patrol vehicle and tried to stop it right then,” said Tipton. “We would have basically just bit the bullet and let whatever happened happen for the safety of the children.”

After Tenaha, the vehicle speed was once again exceeding 100 mph. Now with the constables behind the vehicle again a new development came to light, there was an 18-wheeler ahead hauling a trailer load of saltwater.

“We continued to follow, keeping direct communication with the driver, coaching her through what to do and not do, and the Lord put a saltwater truck in front of us.”

While Constable Tipton was in direct contact with the driver of the Toyota, she was advised to engage her brakes as best she could before bumping the rear of the saltwater hauler.

It appeared minimal damage was taken by the vehicle after bumping the rear of the saltwater hauler. The driver then allowed her brakes to cool before bumping the truck again and maintaining contact with the trailer. Deputy Constable Pope then traveled up alongside the truck-tractor and spoke with its driver to give him instructions.

Through the actions of the constables and the truck driver, they were able to bring the frightening situation to a favorable conclusion. 

“We just eased her right on over to the shoulder of the road,” said Constable Tipton.

As soon as everything was brought to a halt, the constables exited their vehicle and raced on foot to the Toyota.

“The first thing we did was get the children out of the car,”said Tipton. “We got the mother, and the children out of the car safely and nobody was injured. I can honestly say that the good Lord was watching over us.”

In addition Constable Tipton thanked the driver of the Tri-State truck tractor, DPS Trooper Taylor Buster, Shelby County Sheriff’s Department deputies, constable Roy Cheatwood, and anyone else involved who may not be mentioned here.

Related Articles: