A Florida teenager led a state trooper on a wrong-way chase through traffic Friday evening before making what may be the most courteous getaway attempt in recent memory. Emorie Hamilton, 18, of Sarasota, was spotted by a Florida Highway Patrol trooper who was already responding to a separate call around 6:20 p.m. on Sun City Center Boulevard in Hillsborough County. The trooper noticed Hamilton’s Kia speeding, weaving through traffic, and using the shoulder to pass other drivers — not exactly subtle behavior when a trooper happens to be nearby.
With lights and sirens activated, the trooper caught up to Hamilton, but she kept going. After an unsuccessful PIT maneuver, Hamilton crossed the paved median and began driving eastbound in the westbound lanes — a move that put oncoming drivers in a very uncomfortable position. Dashcam footage from the pursuit shows at least one driver swerving out of her path to avoid a head-on collision.
The chase came to an end when Hamilton turned into a hospital parking lot, where the trooper was able to block her vehicle. And here’s the detail that will live rent-free in your head: despite driving the wrong way down a public road at speed, Hamilton used her blinker to signal the turn. Traffic laws: apparently optional, except for that one.
She was taken into custody without incident, which at that point was probably a relief to everyone. Jail records show Hamilton spent the night in Hillsborough County Jail before being released on bond the following afternoon. She faces a misdemeanor charge for driving without a valid license, and a felony charge of fleeing to elude.
Wrong Way, Worse Outcome
Wrong-way driving is one of the more statistically lethal things a person can do on a public road. Closing speeds in a head-on scenario are additive – if Hamilton was doing 60 and an oncoming driver was doing 50, the impact equivalent is 110 mph.
The dashcam footage showing a driver swerving clear illustrates just how quickly that math becomes a tragedy.
The PIT Maneuver and What Comes After
The trooper attempted a Precision Immobilization Technique, or PIT maneuver, during the pursuit – a controlled contact move designed to spin a fleeing vehicle out and bring it to a stop. It didn’t work here. What ultimately ended the chase was a parking lot and a set of patrol vehicles, not a tactical driving technique.
PIT maneuvers work best at lower speeds on predictable road surfaces, and pursuits that escalate to wrong-way driving tend to reduce the available options quickly.
Felony for Fleeing
Fleeing to elude in Florida carries felony-level consequences when the pursuit involves high speeds or reckless driving, regardless of what the original violation was. Hamilton wasn’t pulled over for something serious; the trooper simply noticed dangerous driving while en route to another call.
The decision to run, rather than pull over, is what converted a traffic stop into a felony arrest and an overnight stay in county jail.