In what can only be considered serendipitous timing, a snowplow crew from the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) inadvertently became heroes when they played a pivotal role in halting a man who was attempting to flee from police. The incident took place late Thursday night, when CDOT personnel, who are customarily engaged in maintaining road safety and aiding in emergencies, found themselves at the center of a police chase. Michael Zamora, a CDOT supervisor, highlighted the multifaceted nature of their duties, stating, "We are more involved out there than just plowing snow. We respond to emergencies, accidents, calls for help, broken-down motorists. Nine times out of 10, we are first on scene," as reported by 9NEWS.
During the intense pursuit on January 2nd around 11:30 p.m. along I-70, officers flagged a black Hyundai Accent, connected to a robbery, for lacking a functioning tail light. Even after officers tried to carefully stop the driver using tire deflation sticks and setting up a roadblock, the suspect managed to continue evading them, even colliding with a deputy's vehicle in the process. The details of this chase were provided by KDVR.
It was at this critical juncture that the CDOT snowplow crew, who were at work on Floyd Hill, became unwitting participants in the pursuit. Their presence on the interstate and subsequent actions contributed to the ultimate apprehension of the suspect, allowing the situation to be resolved without further harm to the public or law enforcement officers.
"We just happened to be at the right place at the right time," remarked one CDOT snowplow driver, as per Denver7, who has been with the department for over 17 years and has never before witnessed such a high-speed chase. This serendipitous involvement of the snowplow crew illustrates the unpredictable yet indispensable role that these public servants often play in maintaining safety on our roads, an aspect of their job that goes well beyond the mere plowing of snow.
