Suspect Shoots Trooper’s Radiator During PIT Maneuver

Read the full story on The Auto Wire

Running from police is a dumb proposition, especially agencies like Georgia State Patrol. But this guy in a Volkswagen Jetta did just that, then when the trooper caught up with him he shot the patrol car’s radiator. That’s about the only way a Jetta could ever get away from a cop.

See what’s left of a cop car hit on a rural Colorado highway.

This went down in Covington, Georgia back in October of 2022 but the dashcam footage was recently released. We see the trooper clock the suspect speeding on the highway, then chasing after him, eventually catching up after the Jetta exits and tries hiding in a retail parking lot.

When that doesn’t work, the guy pretends to comply with the legal traffic stop but he won’t turn off the VW like he’s told. That’s when he steps on it, making a slow getaway. Of course the trooper is able to immediately PIT the car, but the suspect regains control quickly, almost like he’s been pitted before.

The trooper wastes no time doing a second PIT, but just as he impacts, the suspect leans out his window and shoots the cruiser with a handgun. That’s enough to puncture the radiator, as you see afterward vaporized coolant steaming out from the grille as the trooper turns around to continue the pursuit.

You won’t get far with a leaking radiator, especially if you really push your vehicle like in a pursuit situation. Fortunately, the trooper didn’t have to chase the Jetta much longer since the suspect ditched the slow sedan and decided to try his luck on foot. He was eventually caught.

We don’t see too many pursuits where suspects are shooting at police, which is a good thing. But this shows there are several ways to disable a vehicle using gunfire, although some take longer to be fully realized than others.

Image via State Boyzzz/YouTube

Follow The Auto Wire on Google News.

Join our Newsletter, subscribe to our YouTube page, and follow us on Facebook.