By Mary O’KEEFE

On Tuesday afternoon, a couple visiting from Texas found that California freeways can offer more obstacles than traffic jams and construction.

At 1:46 p.m., the Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s Station received a call from a woman who was a passenger in a vehicle who said a driver had been following her family and yelling at them.

On the recording of the call to CV Sheriff’s dispatch, the woman can be heard saying, “We have a guy following us. We can’t shake him.”

The woman was obviously concerned and frightened.

“We have a baby in the car,” she added.

The incident began on the Foothill (210) Freeway when a driver of a Toyota Tacoma began following the out-of-state couple and screaming at them out of his window, according to the victim.

“This guy was [allegedly] driving aggressively,” said Lt. Mark Slater of the CV Sheriff’s Station.

The couple exited the freeway at Angeles Crest Highway and was attempting to follow their GPS (Global Positioning System) to the CV Sheriff’s Station, the law enforcement station nearest to them.

“The GPS had them making U-turns and was confusing,” Slater said. “That’s when they called the station.”

Slater added that, with the construction on the 210 and some surface streets, GPS is not always updated with the most direct path to a location.

The woman contacted CV Sheriff’s Station and dispatch directed her to their address; fortunately they were near Briggs Avenue at the time.

“We are coming to Briggs, we are about a half a mile from you,” she said.

She repeatedly asked if there would be deputies waiting for them and dispatch assured her there would be.

“We met them in the parking lot,” Slater said.

Upon an investigation, deputies found the driver of the Toyota, a 41-year-old Simi Valley man, was intoxicated. His blood alcohol concentration (BAC) was more than double the legal limit, according to Slater.

The legal limit for BAC is .08%.

“He thought he was in San Diego,” Slater added.

The man was arrested and charged with two counts of DUI, (Driving Under the Influence and Driving Under the Influence of .08 or greater). It is not known yet whether there will be any other charges.

He spent the night at the CV Sheriff’s Station.

Slater said coming to the station is the best thing to do when a driver feels threatened by another, but advises to contact the station or call 9-1-1 first rather than depending on GPS.

California Highway Patrol has similar advice.

“We recommend drivers call 9-1-1,” agreed CHP Officer Bejar. Most 9-1-1 calls from cellphones go directly to CHP.

Bejar added that drivers who feel they are being threatened by another driver, or if they witness someone driving erratically and think they may be under the influence, should have basic information at hand, like knowing the freeway they are on, what direction they are traveling and the nearest cross street or freeway exit.

“If a driver is being followed, the best thing for them to do is to exit the freeway,” Bejar said.

It is important to try to get some identification of the aggressive or compromised driver. There have been times when the reporting driver has given the vehicle’s plate number and description of the car but not of the driver.

“When we [follow up], the driver will tell us they weren’t the one driving,” Bejar said.

He added that people who witness an apparent driver under the influence or are victims of an aggressive driver to not take matters into their own hands.

“Don’t chase them down,” Bejar said. “We recommend for [those] drivers to report it to us so we can get there.”

“When we [follow up], the driver will tell us they weren’t the one driving,” Bejar said.
He added that people who witness an apparent driver under the influence or are victims of an aggressive driver to not take matters into their own hands.
“Don’t chase them down,” Bejar said. “We recommend for [those] drivers to report it to us so we can get there.”

  Mary Okeefe