Police in Calera, Alabama, say that two truckers were instrumental in bringing a police pursuit to a safe stop on Saturday.
At 2:45 a.m. on October 17, 2026, an officer with the City of Calera Police Department (CPD) spotted a vehicle “traveling at a high rate of speed” through a construction zone on I-65.
The officer attempted to initiated a traffic stop by activating lights and sirens, but the suspect continued driving south at a high rate of speed.
Other agencies were notified of the pursuit and prepared to assist.
The CPD officer in pursuit of the fleeing vehicle saw the driver suddenly apply the brakes, causing “a cloud of smoke from the tires.” The driver then exited I-65, stopped, and was arrested.
“The reason for the sudden deceleration was two 18-wheeler trucks, which were traveling at equal speed side by side, blocking the suspect, who then gave up,” CPD said.
CPD expressed gratitude to the truckers for their quick action to bring the pursuit to a halt.
“I often thank our citizens for assisting us by reporting criminal behavior and being our eyes on the street. Today, I want to thank these truckers who pulled a reverse Smokey and the Bandit move and helped us catch this guy before he killed someone. Truck drivers are the backbone of commerce in our country and are too often taken for granted. These two drivers took action and quite possibly prevented a tragedy. I say it a lot, but I will say it again. Law enforcement is ineffective without the trust and partnership of the community,” said CPD Chief Hyche.
