Dispatcher Stops Run-Away Car by Phone

10/17/2011

"...There are cars in front of me and i can't stop..."



Los Angeles County Sheriff's Dispatcher (Law Enforcement Technician) Richard Engersbach (photo below) was the day shift dispatcher at Crescenta Valley Station at 10:55AM on Monday, October 17, 2011.



Engersbach received a forwarded 911 call from a woman who was driving in her car on Foothill Blvd in La Canada Flintridge. She had passed Angeles Crest Highway and was approaching Sports Chalet Drive.



She said her car's accelerator was stuck, forcing her vehicle to move at approximately 20-25 MPH and preventing her from stopping. Sobbing, she said over 9-1-1 "...There are cars in front of me and i can't stop..."



The 40-year old mom from Sunland was driving a Ford Escort with her five year old daughter in the back seat as her passenger. Considering the circumstances, she remained as calm as possible but did not know how to stop the car. She was getting more upset because she was approaching a red light and her vehicle would not stop.



Sheriff's Dispatcher Engersbach talked calmly to her on the phone while typing in a call to patrol deputies about the emergency. He asked her to check her brakes, then told her to put the car in neutral and turn off the engine. Although audibly shaken and upset, she followed his instructions. The car began to slow down and the vehicle engine died. Her car finally came to a stop before she reached the intersection. These actions likely prevented a serious traffic collision and possibly serious injuries or even death to the caller and her child.



"I was shocked when I first got the call," said Sheriff's Dispatcher Engersbach. "Knowing that a child was in the car made it that much more urgent that the car be stopped. I remembered that recently we had another runaway car incident, and that a deputy had to get in front of that car at a high rate of speed to block and stop it, so while talking to her I was also sending patrol cars to help. I am really glad everyone is okay."



*****



HOW TO STOP A CAR IF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKS OR IS BLOCKED



If the pedal starts to feel sticky but isn't yet stuck, stop driving and call a dealer to arrange for your vehicle to be picked up.

But if the pedal is stuck in a depressed position, here is what a driver can do:



Shift the transmission to neutral



Turn off the ignition switch



Apply the brakes and pull over



With the engine cut off, you will lose some power steering assist, but you should still be able to steer the vehicle to a safe stopping position.



IF YOU OWN A NEWER CAR WITH PUSH BUTTON START:



Electronic control buttons are different. Research your car and ask your dealer how to turn it off.



Some push-button start cars will turn off if you hold down the button for 3 seconds in order to turn the vehicle off.



PLEASE ask your car dealer.









Did you know? There are over 850 LASD reserve sheriff's deputies who work patrol, jails, search and rescue, motorcycle patrol, mounted posse, investigations, and more, as team members of the second largest policing agency in the nation. http://lasdreserve.org/

The Crescenta Valley Station Reserve Coordinator is Sergeant Burton Brink (818) 248-4018



Content Contact Information:

Sergeant Mark Slater

Captain Dave Sliversparre

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, Crescenta Valley Station

(818) 248-3464

www.CrescentaValley.lasd.org

E-Mail: crescentavalley@lasd.org





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