Auto thief foiled by guardian satellite
OnStar and the case of the aborted car jack
Posted in Crime, 20th October 2009 23:46 GMT
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A 21-year-old man was arrested Sunday after the 2009 Chevrolet Tahoe he is accused of carjacking was electronically disabled as he sped away from two police cruisers.
The SUV was stopped by OnStar, the satellite-enabled system that allows drivers to receive remote assistance during accidents and other emergencies. Police were able to locate the stolen vehicle by calling a dispatcher. The dispatcher then sent a command disabling its gas pedal, causing the Tahoe to come to a gradual halt.
It was the first time the service has been used to end a high-speed chase since General Motors added it to some of its 2009 product line. According to the Associated Press, 334 people died last year in crashes that stemmed from police chases.
Even without the interference from OnStar, it's clear the alleged thief's caper was ill-fated. As he got out of the disabled car and ran, he was nabbed by cops after he fell into a backyard swimming pool. ®
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