Kungfoolss
07-12-2003, 04:48 AM
Hit-and-run rampage - Woman driver left on life support
7/12/2003
By Helen Gao
Staff Writer
NORTH HILLS -- A woman motorist was on life support Friday after being injured by a hit-and-run driver, who caused three crashes before he was caught by bystanders, authorities said. Police believe Douglas A. Whitwam was under the influence of narcotics when he careened down Hayvenhurst Avenue in his 1995 Ford pickup truck. Whitwam, 34, of Westlake Village drove away from the first two crashes and was trying to run from the third when he was stopped by another motorist who was trained in martial arts, police said.
"He knew each time he crashed, he regained control," said LAPD Sgt. Don Kelly. "That shows he knew he was driving dangerously." The suspect got involved in a minor collision at Hayvenhurst Avenue and Nordhoff Street about 1 p.m., officials said. Instead of stopping, the suspect raced south on Hayvenhurst and barreled through a red light at Parthenia Street, slamming into a 1988 Toyota Corolla and a 2002 Nissan Xterra SUV, authorities said. The force of the impact spun the Corolla into oncoming traffic, and it was hit by another car, officials said. "It sounded like thunder -- boom," said Michael Anderson, who lives near the crash scene. An unidentified 20-year-old woman from Canoga Park driving the Corolla suffered critical injuries and was rushed to Northridge Hospital Medical Center, where she was on life support, LAPD Capt. Greg Meyer said. David Thompson, owner of the SUV, said he was spun around several times.
"It happened so fast, I didn't have time to be scared. I was just grateful to God I didn't get hurt," said Thompson, a Canoga Park resident. Whitwam continued south on Hayvenhurst and crashed his truck into two parked big rigs near Roscoe Boulevard, just north of the Van Nuys Airport, said Valley Traffic Detective Supervisor Bill Bustos.
A motorist named Eric, who asked that his last name not be used, followed Whitwam and blocked his escape when he tried to run. "I told him, 'You better not run. I am going to chase you,"' said Eric, who is trained in judo, tae kwon do and hapkido. Several people later helped him hold the driver until the police arrived. Whitwam was booked late Friday at Van Nuys Jail on suspicion of felony hit-and-run driving, Meyer said.
Eric, of Santa Clarita, said he could have been beaten up but that he would have done what he did all over again, even if it meant putting himself in harm's way. "It's just natural," he said. "It just came out of me in an instant: He isn't going to get away with this. I didn't think twice." Whitwam was being held with bail set at $50,000.
http://www.dailynews.com/Stories/0,1413,200~20954~1508302,00.html
7/12/2003
By Helen Gao
Staff Writer
NORTH HILLS -- A woman motorist was on life support Friday after being injured by a hit-and-run driver, who caused three crashes before he was caught by bystanders, authorities said. Police believe Douglas A. Whitwam was under the influence of narcotics when he careened down Hayvenhurst Avenue in his 1995 Ford pickup truck. Whitwam, 34, of Westlake Village drove away from the first two crashes and was trying to run from the third when he was stopped by another motorist who was trained in martial arts, police said.
"He knew each time he crashed, he regained control," said LAPD Sgt. Don Kelly. "That shows he knew he was driving dangerously." The suspect got involved in a minor collision at Hayvenhurst Avenue and Nordhoff Street about 1 p.m., officials said. Instead of stopping, the suspect raced south on Hayvenhurst and barreled through a red light at Parthenia Street, slamming into a 1988 Toyota Corolla and a 2002 Nissan Xterra SUV, authorities said. The force of the impact spun the Corolla into oncoming traffic, and it was hit by another car, officials said. "It sounded like thunder -- boom," said Michael Anderson, who lives near the crash scene. An unidentified 20-year-old woman from Canoga Park driving the Corolla suffered critical injuries and was rushed to Northridge Hospital Medical Center, where she was on life support, LAPD Capt. Greg Meyer said. David Thompson, owner of the SUV, said he was spun around several times.
"It happened so fast, I didn't have time to be scared. I was just grateful to God I didn't get hurt," said Thompson, a Canoga Park resident. Whitwam continued south on Hayvenhurst and crashed his truck into two parked big rigs near Roscoe Boulevard, just north of the Van Nuys Airport, said Valley Traffic Detective Supervisor Bill Bustos.
A motorist named Eric, who asked that his last name not be used, followed Whitwam and blocked his escape when he tried to run. "I told him, 'You better not run. I am going to chase you,"' said Eric, who is trained in judo, tae kwon do and hapkido. Several people later helped him hold the driver until the police arrived. Whitwam was booked late Friday at Van Nuys Jail on suspicion of felony hit-and-run driving, Meyer said.
Eric, of Santa Clarita, said he could have been beaten up but that he would have done what he did all over again, even if it meant putting himself in harm's way. "It's just natural," he said. "It just came out of me in an instant: He isn't going to get away with this. I didn't think twice." Whitwam was being held with bail set at $50,000.
http://www.dailynews.com/Stories/0,1413,200~20954~1508302,00.html
