|
Okay, storytime: A few years ago, I witnessed a pretty solid rear- end collision... totaled the car that got hit, a newer Acura driven by a couple of 20- somethings. Injuries, to them, too. However, the vehicle that did the rear- ending was still driveable, and took off. I was on foot, couldn't pursue.
A couple of days later, just for giggles, I returned to the same area at the same time... just wondered if that car might be found be found there again. I spotted that same car--- albeit with a front end covered in Bondo and baling wire and spray paint--- parked in front of a warehouse.
I called the police, but the dispatcher said they had no record of any accident in that area over the past few days. I assured her that I had given witness statements to the officers that had showed up, and that, hell yes, there had been a very major collision there just two days before... but, dispatch told me to blow it off, because there was no report.
I called the Sheriff... that dispatcher spent some time shuffling papers around, and tapping keys on the keyboard. She finally told me that oh, yeah... she JUST remembered: It turns out that all parties were just FRIENDS, and that the injured party with the totaled car had decided not to press charges. I told her that, no, that damn sure did not seem to be the case at the scene of the accident... but this dispatcher ALSO told me to blow it off, because this was a "done deal."
Still not satisfied, because I am a tenacious dog, I decided to go find an actual cop. I found a California Highway Patrol Officer, explained the story, and escorted him to the vehicle. There was a woman in the car, apparently waiting for her husband to get off work. I waited nearby as the officer interviewed her, and about 20 minutes later, other patrol cars arrived. Then an officer came over to congratulate me.
He said, "We've been working on this one... and that IS the hit and run car we were looking for. The driver just broke down and admitted everything. No license, no insurance, that's why they ran. But, sure enough, that's the car we were looking for!" He thanked me, apologized for the bullshit that the PD and the Sheriff's office had given me, and I was on my way. Good deed done, case closed.
|