Police Use PIT Maneuver to Stop Wrong-Way Driver on Highway
Introduction
Authorities utilized a PIT (Precision Immobilization Technique) maneuver in the early hours of Sunday morning to
apprehend a driver who was traveling in the wrong direction on the highway. The incident occurred on I-4
westbound in Florida.
Video Evidence
A dashcam video captured the moment when the Florida Highway Patrol officer spotted the DUI suspect driving
against traffic on I-4. Despite the late hour, other vehicles were still present on the roadway. The officer
quickly turned around and initiated pursuit.
The PIT Maneuver
The pursuing officer wasted no time catching up to the suspect and executed a PIT maneuver, causing the Honda
to spin out. Fortunately, no other vehicles were involved in the incident. Despite the impact, the driver
continued in the wrong direction but eventually pulled over onto the shoulder.
Arrest and Charges
The FHP officer followed up by nudging the rear quarter panel of the suspect’s car, prompting the driver to
surrender. The driver, identified as a local assistant principal, exhibited signs of intoxication such as the
smell of alcohol and slurred speech. He refused breath tests and field sobriety testing, and later vomited in
the parking lot of the Polk County Jail. The driver is now facing charges of driving under the influence and
fleeing/eluding law enforcement.