In what should have been a routine morning commute in North Carolina, things took a bizarre turn when a driver who stopped to help allegedly watched his pickup truck become the getaway vehicle. Authorities in Wake County say the male suspect had already crashed a stolen SUV before climbing into the bystander’s Chevrolet Silverado and fleeing the accident scene.
Local news channel WRAL News interviewed the North Carolina State Highway Patrol after the incident, who said that the Thursday morning chaos began near Ten-Ten Road and Old Stage Road in southern Wake County. Investigators say a driver operating a stolen SUV ran a red light, struck another vehicle, and left the roadway before the situation escalated.
The suspect then proceeded to steal a witness’s truck and continued driving for several miles before ironically crashing again near downtown Raleigh. Such a dramatic series of events undoubtedly makes you realize how quickly a seemingly ordinary traffic incident can snowball into even more disarray.
In one moment, you are the Good Samaritan who stops to help a fellow driver in trouble, then the next, you are the victim of a robbery. For many drivers, stopping to check on a crash scene often feels like the upstanding thing to do, making the incident especially relatable.
The First Crash Was Only the Beginning
According to WRAL News, troopers identified the suspect in the stolen car incident as Robert Jerry Bradley, a 41-year-old man from Cary. Investigators say Bradley was first driving a black SUV, possibly stolen from Durham County, when he allegedly ran a red light and collided with a silver Lexus sedan near the intersection of Ten-Ten Road and Old Stage Road.
After the crash, the SUV reportedly left the roadway and ended up in nearby trees and bushes. As expected, nearby witnesses and other passing motorists stopped, apparently expecting to help or assess the situation after the collision.
Instead, authorities and witnesses say Bradley entered a nearby parked Chevrolet Silverado and drove away. WRAL reported that the truck owner later said he had left the vehicle running while stepping away, although he had taken the key with him.
Witness Recounts the Moment the Pickup Suddenly Drove Away
Nathan Nolan, a neighbor who happened to be at the scene, told WRAL he had been sleeping in a camper nearby when he heard the impact. He said he walked outside after hearing the boom and immediately realized something unusual was unfolding.
Nolan reported hearing someone shout, “He’s getting in my truck!” A few moments later, he said he saw the Silverado leave the area at high speed. “He jumps into the dude’s Silverado truck with the lights on, and we hear peeling tires and he’s gone.”
Thankfully, no one got injured at this first scene, with Nolan and the man whose truck was stolen trying to see the humor in the moment. “Obviously, the guy is like, ‘I left my coffee and golf clubs in there!’ And we were both like, ‘Well, I can get you another coffee.’
Police Say the Stolen Pickup Didn’t Make It Far Before Crashing Again
After driving off from the first scene, the suspect then drove the stolen pickup roughly 10 miles before crashing again near Morgan Street in downtown Raleigh. According to authorities, the truck caused significant damage to at least two other vehicles before overturning.
Local news footage from the scene showed the heavily damaged black Silverado pickup resting on its side across a sidewalk. Luckily, despite the dramatic ending, officials have not publicly reported life-threatening injuries connected to the second crash either.
Troopers ultimately took Bradley to WakeMed hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries following the second wreck. Authorities later obtained warrants charging him with driving while impaired, reckless driving, felony hit-and-run, failing to stop for a red light, and failing to wear a seat belt. Additionally, Bradley will also have to answer for the possession of a stolen pickup truck for the second crash.
The Incident Highlights Risks Good Samaritans Face While Stopping To Help
Aside from the humor shared between Nolan and the pickup truck owner, this unusual turn of events serves as a subtle reminder of how crash scenes can sometimes be unpredictable, especially before first responders arrive. And despite the urge to assist, safety experts advise motorists who stop to help to remain vigilant of their surroundings and to avoid placing themselves in unwarranted danger.
Modern vehicle technology also became an unexpected part of the story, considering the pickup truck continued driving even without the key. According to Nathan Nolan’s recollection of the incident, the truck owner attempted to disable his vehicle remotely but was reportedly informed that it could not be shut down without a police report.
As more vehicles continually rely on electronic keys and connected services, questions about vehicle security, especially after crashes or emergencies, are likely to become increasingly important.