Paulding County Sheriff's Office deputies used a PIT maneuver to stop a high-speed chase involving a U-Haul truck in Georgia [1].
The incident highlights the risks associated with high-speed pursuits of heavy vehicles and the tactical decisions police make to protect public safety.
On May 6, 2024 [1], deputies engaged a driver who was wanted on violations and operating the vehicle recklessly [4]. The Pursuit Intervention Technique, or PIT maneuver, involves a police vehicle striking the rear side of a fleeing car to force it to spin out and stop.
In this instance, the maneuver caused the U-Haul truck to flip and roll onto its side [1]. The action was taken to end the dangerous pursuit and prevent further risk to the public [4].
Separate reports indicate another pursuit involving a PIT maneuver occurred in Glendale near Port Washington Road and Hampton Avenue on May 15, 2024 [3]. While the Georgia incident involved a rental truck, different reports regarding the Georgia chase suggest the suspects may have been twins fleeing from a traffic stop in Alpharetta [4].
Law enforcement agencies use these maneuvers when the danger posed by a continuing chase outweighs the risk of the crash caused by the intervention. The use of PIT maneuvers on larger vehicles, such as rental trucks, carries a higher risk of vehicle rollover compared to standard passenger cars.
“The maneuver caused the U-Haul truck to flip and roll onto its side.”
The use of the Pursuit Intervention Technique on high-center-of-gravity vehicles like U-Haul trucks demonstrates the escalation of force police employ when a suspect refuses to yield. While effective in terminating a chase, these maneuvers increase the likelihood of vehicle rollovers, shifting the risk from unpredictable road hazards to a controlled, police-initiated collision.
