LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — A Monday afternoon commute on the 215 Beltway turned into a 14-mile emergency earlier this month after an electric vehicle began accelerating on its own, reaching speeds up to 90 mph with brakes that would not respond.
Nevada State Police said the driver called 911 from the area of Rainbow Road on July 6th. Dispatchers kept the driver on the phone, collecting continuous location updates while troopers and other agencies moved into position.
Coordinated response
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police officers assisted with a traffic break, clearing other drivers from the roadway as the vehicle traveled toward Ann Road.
Near Ann Road, troopers moved in — one unit in front, another behind — using a tactic they call “boxing” to slow the vehicle and push it toward the shoulder.
“Our biggest thing is to know ahead of them,” Trooper Shawn Haggstrom of the Nevada State Police said. “If somebody can call 911, then we can actually do a traffic break up ahead and start getting traffic off the roadway.”
Crash sensors aided the stop
Special crash sensors on the vehicle activated during the maneuver, making it easier to bring the car under control. Haggstrom said troopers also had a contingency plan if the boxing tactic had not worked.
“We’ll allow them to, you know, to strike our vehicle and we’ll hit the brakes and kind of bring it to a stop,” Haggstrom said.
That backup plan was not needed. Troopers brought the vehicle to a controlled stop and secured the scene. The driver was taken to a hospital as a precaution. No injuries were reported.
“Everything worked together — not only the driver, the troopers, the assisting agencies — and also being able to get that car stopped before it could harm him or somebody else,” Haggstrom said.
What to do in a runaway vehicle
Nevada State Police advise drivers who find themselves in a runaway vehicle to stay calm and immediately call 911 or *NHP. Dispatchers should be given a location, direction of travel, and speed.
If it can be done safely, troopers recommend shifting the vehicle into neutral, firmly applying the brakes, and attempting to shut off the ignition. If the vehicle does not slow, drivers are advised to maintain a straight line, move toward the right lane or shoulder when clear, and remain on the line with dispatch while troopers work to clear traffic and bring the vehicle to a controlled stop.
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