Tyre Trouble Lands Man in Prison

Kwik-Fit recently urged us not to be DIPSTICs – Drivers In a Poor State to Inspect Cars. This prompting came following survey results showing an embarrassingly large percentage of us don’t really know how to check oil levels, maintain tyres or even open our car’s bonnet. A man in the US city of Aurora, Colorado would have done well to heed this advice…..

The 51-year old telephoned the police some time before 2pm on October 29 to report a flat tyre. Would the boys or girls in blue kindly come out and assist, he asked. Fortunately – or so it seemed – for the man, a patrol car was already in the vicinity. It had been dispatched to attend a hit and run accident in which three parked cars were damaged, and was already on its way when the officers were called upon to be good tyre Samaritans.

Upon reaching the disabled vehicle, the police officers couldn’t help but notice that the flat tyre appeared slightly damaged, as though it had scraped against something. Against three parked cars, perchance? Maybe this grey car was the same grey car reported leaving the scene of the prior accident….the evidence was mounting.

By the time the car’s absent rear view mirror was found lying on the ground next to the damaged vehicles, the game was well and truly up for our tyre challenged motorist. He claimed, however, he hadn’t noticed the damage until he was stopped by the flat tyre. Somebody must have hit his car, he protested. But despite assurances that, no, he definitely hadn’t been drinking, police arrested him on suspicion of driving under the influence, and for striking property. The good news is that the police were indeed able to help the man complete his journey, albeit to a new destination – the local jail.