Top Stories - Pygmy Rattler Sets Off Police Chase

PUTNAM COUNTY, FL -- A high speed chase ended at the emergency room of the Putnam Community Medical Center, where the driver told police she was driving recklessly because her husband had been bitten by a ...

[tlc]

No offense, but I wouldn't have stopped either. Last time I checked cops were just that, cops, not doctors.
Now, my driving skills would have been far different. I wouldn't have almost killed everyone I passed, but I would have made it known I wasn't stopping until I got to the ER.
Sounds to me like the woman just needs a good lesson in defensive driving.

[happy camper]

Should have arrested the stupid cow, and her hubby afterward. NOBODY should be out driving like that, if the need is that dire, call the EMT's. she put herself, husband and everybody else on the road in mortal danger for what amounted to an epinephren shot and some antibiotics. Some people are actively trying to be stupid. Didn't realize it was a contest, wait, the Darwin awards, right?

[angel]

I use to live out in interlachen, and I was walking down 315 North, and there were 2 of these baby pygmys snakes, oh was I scared, but I just ept walking and was okay, but I tell ya, I could not put someone else in danger, I understand its a serious matter when bitten by any poisionous snake. Maybe she knew the paramedics couldnt get there quick enough, and took it in her own hands.
but that was pretty careless, almost running someone into the ditch, what if something was serious, that could have been a hit and run.
someone else being pushed in a wheel chair.
im glad nothing was wrong with him.

[angel]

oops, walking down 315 south.

[lennypoo]

I think the cop did the right thing. Sorry Happy Camper, I disagree. Here's the scenario. I get bit by a snake. All I know is that the sucker bit me, he has rattlers and that makes him poisonous. Not ever working at your local zoo, I don't know pigmy from diamondback. I do know my a__ is in trouble and I'm not waiting for anyone to come to me. No time to stop and think about what shots or antibiotics I need. You may call me stupid but at least I'll be alive to hear it.

[Eddie]

Well, at least nobody got hurt from this. She should have called ahead to the hospital and let them know she was coming with her husband and to notify the cops she was driving a certain vehicle with her flashers on (she needed to have her flashers on). She obviously loves her husband very much.

[Wish Bone]

Did she ever hear of calling 911? Maybe rescue could have came out..or the cops could have drove him to the hospital...if she had of killed or injured someone else..are they more valuable than her husband?

I think giving her a ticket was fair..and nice

[Jville Girl]

happy camper wrote:

Should have arrested the stupid cow, and her hubby afterward. NOBODY should be out driving like that, if the need is that dire, call the EMT's. she put herself, husband and everybody else on the road in mortal danger for what amounted to an epinephren shot and some antibiotics. Some people are actively trying to be stupid. Didn't realize it was a contest, wait, the Darwin awards, right?

Could not have said it better there is a reason that we have a service called "911" and EMT's that have been trained to drive under emergency circumstances. Underneath it all we all think we are the best driver in the world, but when you are under that kind of panic being behind the wheel is no place to be. She could have killed or seriously injured someone. That kind of erratic driving is uncalled for. If you she felt that her husband was in that much danger to where she was forcing other drivers off the road she should have called 911. These days with the way road rage is she better be glad that some crazy person out there didnt try and retaliate.

[Shannie42]

I can relate to a certain degree. My sister in law was pregnant and had terrible morning sickness and at one point she started going into shock or something from not getting enough potassium. Her doctor was in Orange Park and she was in East Palatka so if we were to call the EMS then they would have taken her to Putnam Medical. (Not what she wanted) So I drove her to Orange Park with my flashers on and drive slightly over the speed limit but I was very aware of my surroundings and other drivers. My point is I can understand her concern for her husband but I also agree with the ticket.

[Susan]

Why and how is someone a "stupid cow"? You know this how? She got a ticket and the issue was handled correctly. You lose all credibility with the name calling.

Look, I grew up in Florida. If I ever have the misfortune of being bitten, I'm not waiting for EMS if I have someone right there to drive me to the hospital. Did you know they don't carry any kind of anti venin for snakebites? Until someone is bitten they cannot predict how the person will react. Some people who are sensitive to the snake's venom or who have underlying health issues will react badly, and we don't know what kind of health her husband was in.
Dang. "stupid cow"??? That is so uncalled for.

[deals]

Call 911 are you nuts. I have full medical coverage, medical coverage does not include emergency transport.If i'm anything shy of falling over dead I'm driving myself to the hospital. You won't catch me taking a $5,000 taxi ride. That being said, A simple phone call to the police asking for an escort is the correct way to have handled this situation. The cop should have had common sense when they pulled into the hospital parking lot but police and common sense in the same sentence is a quagmire

Wish Bone wrote:

Did she ever hear of calling 911? Maybe rescue could have came out..or the cops could have drove him to the hospital...if she had of killed or injured someone else..are they more valuable than her husband?
I think giving her a ticket was fair..and nice

[terrie]

Everyone in this world knows when you call 911 and the EMS they are never on time, she did put everyone around her and danger and she could also be died herself, she should have receive a ticker for wreckless driving

[alrightythen]

terrie wrote:

Everyone in this world knows when you call 911 and the EMS they are never on time, she did put everyone around her and danger and she could also be died herself, she should have receive a ticker for wreckless driving

GRAMMAR, people!!! Come on!!! Who wants to read these comments anymore when they all sound so uneducated!!!

[ray]

Really vicious, ego-driven cop behavior. His first thought evidently was enforcing CONTROL and the "bust".

[COPS are USELESS]

They will stand and watch a DRUG DEAL go down and do nothing!
But let some lady try and get her husband to the Hospital and they want to be Barnie Fife!!!

[GET A LIFE]

if all you got to do is worry about GRAMMER on a forum !!!!!!!!!!

[Really]

Have you ever waited on EMT? I called 911 after a guy on a scooter slammed into a dump truck. The station was 3 miles away and it took them 20 minutes to get there while the guy was badly injured. Granted in hindsight, she should have called the police and the hospital while en route but when you're thinking of a loved one dieing, things are not all that clear. I would have done the same but probably faster.

It was nice for the cop not to arrest her but the ticket could have been overlooked too. Gotta get in a little power don't ya?

[dan]

She should have called 911 and let them know where she was , where she was going and why. She just sounds like she was panicked and understandably so. When she pulled up to the emergency room the cop should have known it was not an evasion situation but a medical emergency. He does sound like a overzealous Barney Fife type. It is a wonder he didn't taser both of them. I don't buy the wheelchair story and running another driver off the road tale. Thats just the cop justifying his behavior. A ticket was a small price to pay for getting her loved one to the hospital quickly.
Rattle snake bites are nothing to take your time with.

[Amused]

Calling 911 would have been the best thing. Paramedics could have sucked out the poison ... just kidding ... but they could have taken care of him and been in contact with doctors via the radio the whole time.

I'm sorry she got a ticket, but she could have caused an accident.

The moral of this story is don't drive, dial 911 and let them do the driving.

[good job police]

COPS are USELESS wrote:

They will stand and watch a DRUG DEAL go down and do nothing!
But let some lady try and get her husband to the Hospital and they want to be Barnie Fife!!!

obviously you are some kind of moron who dosent like the police until you need them one day then they are going to be your best friend. you people should give the police alot more credit than the citizens of jacksonville do. i mean if people in jacksonville would help the police and stop being a bunch of idiots robbing, killing and start snitching on people the city would be a better place to live in. I mean everybody is so concerned about the crime rate in this city but mysteriously nobody ever seems to know what happened during a crime that has just been committed, even when they were sitting outside the whole time. i personally do not have a problem with the police and think that they do an outstanding job keeping the city safe from ignorant people who dont know how to even read or write but can commit a crime. so all ya'll who bad mouth the police you are the true worthless ones. and as for this lady your damn right i would have done the same thing regardless of what happened you dont disreguard other human life.