CHESAPEAKE
It wasn't the General Lee. It was a four-door Nissan Maxima with Kentucky plates.
But when police saw what the Nissan's driver attempted Tuesday on the Gilmerton Bridge, well, they couldn't help thinking: "The Dukes of Hazzard."
Except for one thing: The iconic orange General Lee could jump just about anything. The Maxima - not so much. Police say they were in pursuit of the car just before 2:20 p.m. when it broke through a railing and landed in the Southern Branch of the Elizabeth River.
"As the bridge was closing, he attempted to jump from one portion to another," Chesapeake Police spokeswoman Dorienne Boykin said.
The car came up several feet short, plunging at least eight feet into the water below. The driver made it to shore with some cuts on his neck and arm. Medics retrieved him and took him to the hospital. Police said he was being held in jail this morning.
Michael Christopher Mills Jr., 38, of the 900 block of Blackwater Drive has been charged with felony eluding and damaging property, Boykin said. He was originally wanted on a felony identity fraud charge. Mills also is a convicted sex offender, according to the state's online sex offender registry Web site.
Mills was convicted in 1993 in Chesapeake of carnal knowledge of a child age 13 to 15, according to the site.
A portion of the plunge was caught on surveillance tape where a bridge operator manned a station. Police officers and public works employees watched as a flash of the car in the bottom right of the screen was followed by a splash.
Out on the bridge, officers waited. Below, the department's dive team located the car in 42 feet of water, upside down on the river bed and sticking straight up.
Word of a second pursuit headed toward the Gilmerton Bridge made for a tense moment, until police realized it was a motor scooter, and it was headed somewhere else.
The first peek of the car came at 4:30 p.m. - a dark-colored Nissan with Kentucky plates, a smashed front end and a busted-out window shield pulled up with chains. Pinkish air bags sagged like heavy water balloons as the car dangled over the river for several minutes, dripping water.
"Don't damage it," somebody joked as the front bumper knocked into the railing.
They mimicked the General Lee's horn blast.
"Better make sure we're not missing somebody else," an officer shouted from the Chesapeake police boat below. He held up a pair of purple and black panties, also retrieved from the water.
It was one of the strangest calls tow-truck driver Troy Old of Dale Old Wrecker Service has responded to, and he's been in the business for 24 years. He once took a tow truck out on a ferry to fish a vehicle out of the water.
"I don't think I've ever gotten one off a bridge," Old said. "There's a first time for everything."
Pilot writers Mike Saewitz and Patrick Wilson contributed to this story.
Kristin Davis, (757) 222-5555, kristin.davis@pilotonline.com
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Stupid is as Stupid does
THis guy is going to the clink for a long time. While this is certainly an entertaining story, bear in mind Career Criminals stop at nothing not even closed bridge.
I'm glad he survived the jump to see his day in court.
Not sure..
What's funnier... the story itself, or the good jokes you've all taken from me.
Bridge Location
The bridge is located on 13..aka Miltary Hwy. Most people that have lived in Hampton Roads long enough, know pretty much all bridges/tunnels and where they are located and how to get to and from it. If you don't know, you probably haven't lived here very long.
One more try
I think they should give him another shot at it. The first was just a practice run!
HIGH JUMPER
You know he was not feeling well,have a bad day or just plain...CRAZY
By that mug shot..
He really looks to be intelligent. Can't belive this really happened. They were probably his panties they found too...
*facepalm*
I suppose it would be different if Mills had been hurt or had hurt anyone else, but...that's the funniest thing I've read all day.
who what **WHERE**
According to the map the bridge is on Rt 13; according to the article, it isn't anywhere.
camera
The Coast Guard has a camera there to record any collisions with the pilings. Someone from Group Hampton Roads needs to post the footage
Can not wait for the video..
I would say that those "purple panties" are Daisey's but I firmly believe she never wore any. I sure hope there is dash video of this!
Hysterical
I don't usually like to laugh at another persons misfortune, however, this is HYSTERICAL! I needed to start my day with a good laugh, thank you :)
Cue music
Isn't that when the "thump thump thump" of the CHiPs theme is supposed to start?
When can we...
...see this on "Hot Pursuits 3" on Tru TV !!??
Proper Procedure
You have to pull the steering wheel back towards your chest for proper lift-off of a vehicle. Don't they teach this stuff in school anymore?
i Bet
he had Free Bird playing full blast as he jumped the great divide of Chesapeake shouting Change is gonna come, change we can believe in…
Darwinism
Does anyone else out there want to vote for this guy to win a place in the the 2008 Darwin awards? He has certainly earned it. I would have loved to have been the fly on the wall in his car and seen his expression when his Evil Knievil stunt turned up short and plunged into the Elizabeth . . . or maybe not!
As I Recall... I was there!
As I recall, because I was there, as the car was in midair everything froze... then all the activity went to a commercial break... then a narrator did a recap of events leading up to the midair scene followed by a big SPLASH. Only in the South can we all have this much fun!
Agree with, concur with, support, appreciate & say -
RIGHT ON to->elsie-eye
<>Your comment was so appropriate & spot on that I could not possibly come up with anything that tops it.
<>The Jordan Bridge is a passionate subject for many. I hope the public outcry will be effective to Ches. & to Ports. because the Ports.Council needs to help its citizens fight the good fight here. The Gilmerton is going to have alot more problems in the future as it is slated for roadwork, where the lanes will be reduced & the traffic will be increased IF the Jordan Bridge closes. The Gilmerton is in much worse shape & is older AND the Jordan Bridge is an "historic" landmark. We must stop this demolition program headed our way. Let's hope & pray that smarter heads prevail so that the Jordan is saved. Today's situation at the Gilmerton (albeit a run off due to a police chase) is not an everyday occurance, but by the same token is a definite glimpse into what we can look forward
Wow!
Ten minutes after he was jailed, cousin Daisy distracted Enos by bending over in low cut jean shorts, and he escaped.
News Writing 101
How many times did the writer say "she said" in this SHORT recap of events? Are second graders writing the paper now?