Story Archive

Another Week, Another Floridiot

Volusia County, Fla., sheriff’s deputies responded to a serious accident, and decided to bring in a helicopter to try to save the severely injured driver, a 26-year-old woman. They cordoned off a landing space on the highway and, just as the chopper was about to land, a car arrived in the landing zone, almost running down a deputy, the department says. Firefighters say they tried repeatedly to stop the car, but the driver just went around them, off the pavement, until he ended up under the chopper, which he claims he didn’t see. The pilot had to abort the landing, and the accident victim died. When deputies pulled the intruding driver over, he told them “I always go around firetrucks and never have had a problem before.” James Allen, 52, a physician’s assistant who works at an urgent care center, was arrested and charged with failure to obey police/fire officers, and resisting an officer without violence. As deputies handcuffed Allen, he asked them, “What’s this all about?” (RC/Daytona Beach News-Journal) ...It’s all about you, Mr. Allen — you’re the only person in the world who matters.