Image provided by: Texas A&M University
About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 17, 1977)
Page 6 THE BATTALION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17, 1977 Truck driver runs over three police cars in 50-mile chase United Press International JACKSON, Tenn. — A wild trucker “drove over” three police cruisers with his 18-wheel tractor trailer rig yesterday and sideswiped at least 20 other cars and trucks dur ing an “incredible” two hour, 41 minute chase that covered 50 miles. Two of the tractor trailers he hit were disabled. Jim Henderson, information offi cer of the Tennessee Highway Pa trol, said the trucker finally was stopped in Jackson when the win dows were shot out of his cab. “H came out fighting and it took five officers to subdue him,” Hen derson said. He identified the truck driver as Melvin Davis, 36, of Philadelphia. H e was checked into Madison County General Hospital for obser vation. Henderson said he did not know whether Davis was injured. The saga began at about 1:30 a. m. when the Jackson Highway Patrol dispatcher received a call from another trucker that he saw a trailer rig “weaving all over the road” be tween Nashville and Jackson. The dispatcher sent trooper Lynn Allen to investigate. “Allen stopped the truck east of Jackson and pulled him over and told him he would have to go into the rest area and the man told him he would not,” Henderson said. “He rolled to the next exit and started back up the interstate to ward the east. When Allen caught up with him, he ran the trooper off the road,” he said. “Allen shot out one of the truck’s tires but he kept going, ” according to Henderson. Ford, Carter both sponsor Panama plan United Press International VAIL, Colo. — Former Presi dent Ford yesterday endorsed Pres ident Carter’s two-part agreement giving up control of the Panama Canal by the year 2,000 and said he’d exert his influence to have Congress approve the pact. “I am absolutely convinced that it is in the national interest of the United States that the two treaties be approved,” Ford said after a 90-minute meeting with three Car ter advisors in his swiss-styled chalet. “I hope and trust the two treaties are speedily passed by Congress. It is an important step forward.” President Carter, trying to blunt congressional opposition to return ing the Canal to Panama, sent Joint Chiefs of Staff Cmdr. George Brown, former national security ad visor Brent Scowcroft and Panama nian Ambassador Sol Linowitz to brief Ford on the pact. Carter called Ford Monday to discuss negotia tions. One of the treaties in the agree ment guaranteed neutrality of the canal and the second turned over its control to Panama. The treaties also gave the U.S. free access through the waterway. Ford met with Brown, Scowcroft and Linowitz at the resort where he skied while president. At a news conference later, he said the agree ment followed guidelines set down by this administration in earlier negotiations with Panama. “This will be the clu mi nation of negotiations that had begun with that unfortunate incident in 1964 when American lives were lost,” Ford said, referring to an outbreak of anti-American sentiment in the Canal Zone. Ford said the two areas which had concerned him most about the pact were permanent neutrality of the waterway and the right of United States, until Dec- 31, 1999, to oper ate, maintain and control the canal. Carter ordered the meeting of the advisors with Ford to assure him the neutrality and U.S- control would be maintained. Ford promised to work for congressional approval of the proposals, preferably prior to adjournment. I hope my endorsement of the negotiations and the two treaties will be helpful and beneficial in se curing congressional approval,” Ford said. “It is going to be a tough battle: 8 I hope 1 speak for the majority of Americans.” During the 1976 presidential campaign, Ronald Reagan made a campaign issue of continued U. S. control and occupation of the canal area. Ford said he supported relin quishing control of the canal then but believed an election was not the time to bring negotiations to a close. A lot of things happen in a presi dential election year that have to be held in limbo,” said Ford. “It would not have been the right atmosphere to have consummated a treaty and sent it to the Senate ” Brown said he an d other JCS members had given the Carter pro posal their full support- He said he regretted the national commander of the American Leg* on opposed the project. “The Panama Canal remains a very important strategic asset to the United States but our main interests lie in its use, not its ownership,” said Brown. The patrol spokesman said that many cars and trucks joined the chase for about 25 miles into adjoin ing Henderson County. By this time other police units from both Henderson and Madison counties had joined in the pursiut. Henderson said Davis “ran over” Allen’s patrol car and across the median, heading back west toward Jackson. He said Allen was in the car but was not injured. His car was demolished. Henderson said four big tractor trailer rigs joined together with the use of citizens’ band radios in a “rol ling roadblock” in an attempt to aid officers. Still the truck moved on down toward Jackson. A roadblock com posed of the trucks and two patrol cars was waiting for the truck in Madison County. “He just drove over two patrol cars. He would stop, back up and run into them and finally he drove over them, ” Henderson said. “He finally stopped after officers shot out the glass in his cab. He came out fighting and it took five officers to subdue him, Henderson said. Henderson quoted Davis as say ing “I guess you know who I am.” He said the officers didn’t. BUD WARD VOLKSWtGEN INC. 6933311 Sun Theatres 333 University 841 The only movie in town Double-Feature Every Week Open 10 am - 2 am Mon-Sat 12 Noon - 12 Midnight Sun No one under 18 Escorted Ladies Free BOOK STORE & 25c PEEP SHOWS . NO# AT PIGGLY WIGGL Y THE WORLD FAMOUS' Britannic* Jr. Encyclopedia SPECIAL Introductory offer; 1 •• BY PLAYIN THESE PRICES GOOD THURS /&$AT,AUGUST18,19,&20 197! i Boneless Chuck Roast 3<0ff Comet Cleanser 21 oz. cans Downy Fabric Softener 29 25t Off 96 02. bH. v mm . J Colonial Pure Cane Sugar lb. bug STRAWBERRIES 10 oz. ctn ^0 ^0 FROZEN FOOD SPECIALS POTATOES Ore Ido crinkle cut or French Fries . ..2 lb. boj Limit 1 with *7 50 or more purchose Home! PIZZAS Totino oil varieties IS oz. ctn. TENDER CHUNK HAM BREAD . p, ” ly , w r! v APPi FQAl IPP Musslemans SOLID AIR FRESHENER • • Adds • . 6%0Z. CM . . r * * 3 for \\ ' Piggly Wiggly Homo Milk DAV LOW PRICES W. ctn. - o oz. sue HEINZ 57 STEAK SAUCE • * • • • - - Salad _ t (Tomatoes* CONVENIENT LOCATION ★ WE ACCEPT SEEDLESS GRAPES _ hp CALIFORNIA NECTARINES STAMPS FREE PARKIN ■