Woman Drives RV From Cops in a Helluva Chase
A few months ago, a hair raising police chase took place in the San Fernando Valley. Several police cars chased an RV for thirty minutes. The RV was flying. At times, the vehicle was going faster than 60 mph!
Calling it a car chase is rather mild. Demolition derby is a more befitting term. During the chase, the RV smashed up six cars and even some innocent by-standing trees. The chase was so terrifying, that a dog in the RV, who did not belong to the driver, actually jumped out. The pursuit came to an end when the RV smashed into a car.
How the chase began
Julie Ann Rainbird, 52, was determined to lose the cops. Previously, a lady in Los Angeles filed a report that her identity had been stolen and used to buy a motorcycle. Investigation of the report led to Julie Rainbird, who was in Santa Clarita, California. Around 7pm, the police knocked on Julie Rainbird’s door. She immediately took off and the rest is history.
How the chase ended
Helicopters recorded the chase as Julie sped through narrow residential street. After several collisions, a large chunk of the RV was taken off. A few moments after the RV had come to a stop, a woman leaped out from the driver’s door and tried running away. Unfortunately, the lady was not very agile and didn’t get very far before being tackled by the cops. Like many fleeing criminals, she was apprehended while climbing a fence.
When the dust cleared, Julie Rainbird was charged with felling a pursuing officer causing serious bodily injury, hit and run driving resulting in serious bodily injury, animal cruelty, three counts of assault with a deadly weapon, and hit and run resulting in injury. She faces more than 14 years in prison at age 52.
Do they really think they could lose a cop in an RV?
A few months ago in a similar story, a train of cop cars followed some guy as he drove his recreational vehicle across the state of Ohio for 62 miles on I-75. Top speed was 80mph. Eventually, the driver surrendered. At that time all of the tires on the RV were deflated as a result of spike strips laid on the street by officers.
Knowing that driving away from a cop will get you in much more trouble, as well as the fact that the slowest cop car could do circles around the fastest RV, you have to question the motives of these people. You probably won’t get away from the cops in any vehicle, let alone while you are pushing a motorhome at 60 mph.
Actually, one did get away, sort of
In 2018, Stephen Houk, for example, fled from the police in an RV, and got away. He was driving his RV with his two children aboard, 3 and 11, and led police on an multi-hour chase across LA’s numerous freeways. When the RV got stuck in an almond orchard, Houk disappeared on foot. The 46 year old fugitive was wanted for evading, child abduction, child endangerment and weapons violations. He was also a registered sex offender. (Queally and Techekmedyian, 2018)
Although the RV was found with only his children inside, Stephen Houk was eventually caught, and slammed with an 88 year sentence.
Think Twice, or Just Think
Fight the law and the law will probably win. Especially if your under the influence, are already a wanted fugitive, or decide to make your getaway in a highly visible morothome. Now when you’re ready to use your recreational vehicle for what it’s really there for, make sure you are covered with our recommended plan for Roadside Assistance!
