Crime

See a Cop Use His Car to Stop an 88-Year-Old Man Driving the Wrong Way — And He Knew It!

When 88-year-old Kenneth Gill of Scarborough, Maine, set out on Friday to pay his water bill, he probably didn’t expect it to end with him crashing head-first into the car of a state trooper. But that’s what happened. The “why,” however, will have you scratching your head.

See, in his rush to pay his bill, Scarborough ended up going the wrong way down Interstate 295. Trooper Douglas Copper got the call while conducting a traffic stop on a different vehicle. He immediately left and went in pursuit of Scarborough.

“I knew I had to get to Marginal Way and back on Exit 7 and cross over before he got to the bridge,” Cropper told the Portland Press Herald.

Considering he knew the stretch of road Scarborough was traveling, he knew there were curves ahead — and that meant trouble.

“I knew we would be looking at more than an accident,” Cropper said.

He eventually reached the area he wanted and realized he didn’t have time to  deploy spike strips to blow out the tires. So he used plan b: his car.

Maine Trooper Stops 88 Year Old Wrong Way Driver

Maine Trooper Stops 88 Year Old Wrong Way Driver

Maine Trooper Stops 88 Year Old Wrong Way Driver

“I came in pretty hard, but I was on my brakes and almost at a dead stop,” he told the Press Herald.

Scarborough slammed into the front side of Cropper’s car going about 45-50 MPH. Both, however, were unharmed.

So what did Scarborough say once he get out of the car? “He said he didn’t see any exit.”

The incident was all caught on Cropper’s dash cam. Ironically, you’ll note that Cropper travels the wrong way down a street during the pursuit:

Interestingly, Cropper isn’t a stranger to high-profile cases. He’s been involved in other chases and popular cases in Maine. See which ones here.

(H/T: Jalopnik)

Comments (60)

1 2
  • blair152
    Posted on July 23, 2012 at 5:40pm

    Was the 88-year-old driver headed northbound in the southbound lane or southbound in the northbound lane? Just wondering.

    Report Post »  
    • Cataclysm
      Posted on July 23, 2012 at 6:14pm

      He was heading north in the south bound lane. I drive those roads every day.

      Report Post » Cataclysm  
    • Uranium Wedge
      Posted on July 24, 2012 at 1:54am

      How the hell did that trooper time that hit so well?

      Report Post » Uranium Wedge  
  • clareee
    Posted on July 23, 2012 at 4:48pm

    Thank you for being able to go home to your family safely and I can go to my family safely.

    Report Post »  
  • thetruth34
    Posted on July 23, 2012 at 1:53pm

    Informative article, but very poorly written — incorrect references to names, spelling errors and grammatical errors. Job well done. From a Mainer to a Mainer, way to go Trooper Copper, keeping the roads safe. Also, when will we seriously start to question at what (old) age is it not safe to drive? Should senior citizens take driving tests periodically as they age? Safety first.

    Report Post »  
    • 1TrueOne55
      Posted on July 23, 2012 at 2:04pm

      Not just Senior Citizens but all Citizens should have to retake the driving portion of the licensing process. Since laws change and most of the time many if not all of the Citizenry never knows of these changes until they are ticketed. Having them retake the tests necessary for a license would give the States the ability to keep informed those licensed to drive. It will of course have little to no affect on those that choose to not get a license to drive a car.

      Report Post » 1TrueOne55  
    • 4blackhorses
      Posted on July 23, 2012 at 7:49pm

      I think your self-blessed editorial emporment should be stilled as far as “incorrect references to names, spelling errors and grammatical errors.” (Grammatically incorrect in itself) State Trooper CROPPER, not “Copper” is keeping the roads safe. And what has age got to do with it? How long has it been since you’ve been to an opthamologist to have your sight checked.

      Report Post »  
  • Deceived and Disgusted
    Posted on July 23, 2012 at 1:30pm

    Well done Sir, well done.

    Report Post »  
    • Kupo
      Posted on July 23, 2012 at 1:40pm

      Agreed. That was VERY well done. Now we just have to make sure that this old guy never drives again.

      Report Post » Kupo  
  • LB
    Posted on July 23, 2012 at 1:27pm

    Great driving Officer. Thanks for serving the community.

    Report Post » LB  
  • warhorse_03826
    Posted on July 23, 2012 at 12:38pm

    “Kenneth Gill Scarborough, Maine,”

    that should be “Kenneth Gill OF Scarborough, Maine,”

    “He’s been involved in other chases and popular cases in Main”?

    it’s spelled MAINE.

    does anyone actually read these things before it gets posted?

    Report Post » warhorse_03826  
    • Godfather.1
      Posted on July 23, 2012 at 1:27pm

      “So what did Scarborough say once he get out of the care?” You mean car?

      Apparently Blaze writers don’t know how to use the spelling and grammar check function.

      Report Post »  
    • Godfather.1
      Posted on July 23, 2012 at 1:51pm

      “When 88-year-old Kenneth Gill of Scarborough, Maine, set out on Friday to pay his water bill, he probably didn’t expect it to end with him crashing head-first into the car of a state trooper. But that’s what happened. The “why,” however, will have you scratching your head.

      See, in his rush to pay his bill, Scarborough ended up going the wrong way down Interstate 295.”

      Apparently Kenneth Gill changed his name to Scarborough after the first paragraph was written.

      Report Post »  
    • karen162
      Posted on July 23, 2012 at 4:48pm

      The Blaze writers are the product of Public Education, and not the kind of education you and I received in the 70′s, before the Dept of Education came along to ensure no one learned anything. I remember in Jr. High School, I had an assignment to go through the newspaper and find any grammatical errors/spelling errors. My teacher warned us all it would be tough, because all stories went through an editor, but if we looked hard enough, we probably could find one before the assignment was due at the end of the week.

      The bad part is: If a teacher were to give such an assignment today, most people would not be able to pick out the errors right in front of their face. So, give the Blaze writers a break. They are victims of Jimmy Carter. Its not their fault.

      Report Post » karen162  
    • TheBurningTruth
      Posted on July 23, 2012 at 4:51pm

      Considering that most of the corrections posted by readers seem to have been made, I’d say that the Blaze is using US as their spelling and grammer checkers.

      Report Post » TheBurningTruth  
    • Godfather.1
      Posted on July 23, 2012 at 6:14pm

      @karen162

      You’re kidding, right? You actually think Blaze writers and editors’ inability to proofread and spell check their own articles is a product of Jimmy Carter?

      Report Post »  
    • ubuibi
      Posted on July 23, 2012 at 6:35pm

      @Godfather.1….apparently the state trooper changed his name after the second paragraph….he went from Douglas COPPER to Douglas CROPPER. Cropper is his real name according to the other story….you know, the one the blaze just condensed…it’s the click here link, that’s the actual story.
      @Karen162, I agree with you 100%, since the dept of education took over the ignorance of our children has grown! However, if I’m not mistaken (and if I am it won’t be the last time), Jonathon Saddl (incorrect on purpose)….IS one of the editors of the blaze…..Sad huh?

      Report Post »  
    • ccprotect
      Posted on July 23, 2012 at 9:45pm

      Can you raed this? Olny 55 plepoe out of 100 can. I cdnuolt blveiee that I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd what I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno’t mtaetr in what oerdr the ltteres in a word are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is that the frsit and last ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can still raed it whotuit a pboerlm. This is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the word as a wlohe. Azanmig huh? unless you are a lib you would just spend all your time picking it apart.

      Report Post » ccprotect  
  • fatfreetoothpaste
    Posted on July 23, 2012 at 12:21pm

    That Trooper sure knew the roads. That was impressive.

    Report Post » fatfreetoothpaste  
  • Guitar Master
    Posted on July 23, 2012 at 12:06pm

    zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
    From THE REPORTER
    zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

    You want a hero, a real full-fledged hero?

    You just saw one in this video.

    Report Post »  
  • flsnipe
    Posted on July 23, 2012 at 11:25am

    Nice driving hope they got you a new cruiser not some reserve POS.

    Report Post » flsnipe  
  • freedomisasfreedomdoes
    Posted on July 23, 2012 at 10:58am

    Thank God for troopers like him. Thank God nothing bad happened to other drivers on road. Astounding that someone would miss an exit and rather than go onto the next one and turn around, selfishly endanger others so they could accomplish their task. What does human life mean in those instances? Think about how all the drivers were someone‘s baby at the time and that in fact a baby’s life is being taken.

    Report Post » freedomisasfreedomdoes  
    • Meyvn
      Posted on July 23, 2012 at 11:24am

      Good job sir. This menace needs to have his license revoked.

      Report Post » Meyvn  
  • battles
    Posted on July 23, 2012 at 10:40am

    I once passed a car that was deliberately driving the wrong way on the right shoulder on the Western Kentucky Pkwy (4 lane road with a continuous steel guard rail down the medium) in Kentucky. The woman and her passenger obviously knew what they were doing. This highway in the western part of the state was fairly remote with very little traffic, so she was driving the wrong way to keep from having to take a longer route to a cross road she wanted to get to.

    Report Post » battles  
  • Individualism
    Posted on July 23, 2012 at 10:13am

    To many of those wrong driver idiots glad he was stopped and insane how that trooper had to driver to catch them, I watch cop cars like i do for potential drunk drivers because they drive fast and aggressively allot of the time so i keep my distance from them. I actually dodged 3 of them going the wrong way pursuing a wrong way driver.

    Report Post » Individualism  
  • watashbuddyfriend
    Posted on July 23, 2012 at 10:05am

    Huh! Another plug to control the Seniors. Trooper, you did well, thanks.

    Report Post »  
  • LeadNotFollow
    Posted on July 23, 2012 at 9:56am

    …
    Old folks have paid into Social Security longer than we have. It’s their money.

    Report Post »  
  • screwauger
    Posted on July 23, 2012 at 9:56am

    um, Jonathan, perhaps some editing prior to posting? The man’s name was Gill, from Scarborough, Maine. And yes that’s Maine, not Main.

    Report Post »  
    • LeadNotFollow
      Posted on July 23, 2012 at 10:14am

      …
      Also, in the second paragraph, the writer calls Trooper Cropper “Copper”.
      The Blaze needs more proof readers.

      Report Post »  
  • teddrunk
    Posted on July 23, 2012 at 9:33am

    88? In my day no man lived past his 60s, as it should be. A guy had a year or two of retirement, then a heart attack. Now look what we have, more bad drivers and Social Security running out of money.

    Report Post »  
    • Centurian
      Posted on July 23, 2012 at 1:36pm

      But if they died that early, then I would have missed out on all the money that they send me for my birthday. It’s $20 each year! They’re 95 and 92 (celebrated 75th wedding anniversary this past February!).

      That means they went past your limit by a good 30 years!

      My GOODNESS!!! That’s $600!!!

      LET’EM LIVE!!! I WANT THE CA$H!!! (heh)

      Report Post » Centurian  
  • LeadNotFollow
    Posted on July 23, 2012 at 9:21am

    …
    The media loves to create hate toward old folks and fat people.

    Report Post »  
    • xenolith
      Posted on July 23, 2012 at 3:51pm

      Create? What are you saying? They made this up?

      Report Post » xenolith  
  • LeadNotFollow
    Posted on July 23, 2012 at 9:18am

    …
    Some posters here are bad mouthing old folks and their driving abilities.
    Old folks have just as much right to drive as you and I.
    They have been paying taxes on those roads and their vehicles, longer than we have.
    All the old folks I know, are great drivers.
    I’ll take my chances on the road with old folks.
    Drunk drivers, dope addicts, teenagers, and texters, kill way more people than old folks.

    Report Post »  
    • Red1492
      Posted on July 23, 2012 at 10:33am

      I’ve been in 5 accidents in my whole life… ALL involved seniors and they were always the one at fault. I’ve been on crowded sidewalks when seniors drove down them sending people scrambling out of the way, or driving the wrong way down a road, running stop lights, stop signs, and most frequently backing into other vehicles. There have been many times I’ve reported a “drunk driver” weaving all over the road to 911 only to find out it was a senile senior who wasn’t drunk at all. Seniors should be allowed to drive as long as they can prove they are capable of doing so.

      Report Post » Red1492  
    • listeninginVT
      Posted on July 23, 2012 at 10:47am

      no kidding

      Report Post »  
    • rafa2design
      Posted on July 23, 2012 at 11:57am

      I love our elders but I guess when some get that old they get to a point in life they just don’t care anymore– especially when society and the younger generation treats them like crap and show no respect. They’ve got nothing to lose anymore.

      Report Post » rafa2design  
    • xenolith
      Posted on July 23, 2012 at 3:50pm

      Leadnotfollow, I wonder if you would feel the same way if one day a very old, senile senior decided to exercised his or her right to drive just because they’ve paid more road taxes than you, and ended up slamming into a car with your family in it, killing everyone?

      It was by the grace of God, and the brave actions of Trooper Douglas Cropper, that no one was killed that day.

      Report Post » xenolith  
    • trtmntdude
      Posted on July 23, 2012 at 7:57pm

      Yep, old folks have as much right to drive the wrong way against traffic as anyone else.
      If you think old people should be allowed to drive then I invite you to come and drive around Delray Beach for a day. If you survive you’ll be singing a different tune.

      Report Post »  
    • jmevans99
      Posted on July 24, 2012 at 11:41am

      AMEN…..You are SO right. When was the last time you saw an older driver texting while driving?? Not many get ticketed for DUIs either.

      Report Post » jmevans99  
  • leftcoastslut
    Posted on July 23, 2012 at 9:10am

    don;t know how fast we were going, but the ride was smooth. excellent job trooper. had to watch it twice.

    Report Post »  
  • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
    Posted on July 23, 2012 at 9:02am

    Wonderful, he had the hard choise to make and took it. If the older driver had continued on, there is no telling how bad the outcome could have been.

    Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
  • Anonymous T. Irrelevant
    Posted on July 23, 2012 at 8:58am

    They have these new-tangled contraptions called computers that allow one to pay water bills on-line.
    Maybe his water dept. isn’t up to speed, but I pay mine online each quarter and I didn’t even have to start the car. I know a lot of older people who profess to not knowing how to work a computer, but I also know a lot more who use one every day. Kudos to the MSHP for using his brains.

    Report Post » Anonymous T. Irrelevant  
  • kickagrandma
    Posted on July 23, 2012 at 8:58am

    That trooper certainly did what obamamama and his group of thieves would never do: put his life on the line (many times) to save others.

    WELL DONE, TROOPER. GOD BLESS AND PROTECT YOU!
    Thank you for your service.

    Report Post »  
    • WakingSheep
      Posted on July 23, 2012 at 9:08am

      I had a friend killed in high school by a trooper driving on the wrong side of the highway in pursuit of another vehicle. One of the sweetest girls I have ever known. I would say he put many other lives on the line driving the wrong direction…..

      Report Post »  
  • Hickory
    Posted on July 23, 2012 at 8:57am

    He has been getting away with it over and over. Time to lock him up and throw away the key. He could have killed a lot of people.

    Report Post » Hickory  
    • chips1
      Posted on July 23, 2012 at 12:19pm

      BOING! BOING!! Jumping to conclusions again just like a liberal. When and where were the other offenses you speak about? Why didn’t you talk about the film of the motorcycle riders going the wrong way on the freeway? How about the DRIFTERS that drive recklessly on public roads? Many posters come from huff-po just to inject stupid remarks. Going the wrong way to chase a wrong way driver is a no no. In almost 40 years, I’ve only seen it once, and he was severly reprimanded for his actions. Never drive in the left lanes. That’s where the wrong way drivers tend to be.

      Report Post »  
  • oldwmn
    Posted on July 23, 2012 at 8:56am

    get these OLD FARTS OFF THE ROAD.,,there are enough buses, taxies, church volunteers, to drive him where he needs to go…and I am a old fart and I quit driving when my vision began to fail as i did not want to end up hurting innocent people, put YOUR PRIDE ASIDE,,you stupid old goat, take away the keys, a lot of folks out of work would drive him on his errands for a small fee..

    Report Post » oldwmn  
    • RRFlyer
      Posted on July 23, 2012 at 9:23am

      ANd some day you will be complaining about the young punks. How does it feel to be so full of hate all the time?

      Report Post »  
  • historyguy48
    Posted on July 23, 2012 at 8:55am

    Comrades this officer did good! Better yet nobody was hurt! Great job Trooper Copper, I for one am pleased that you are so good at your job.

    Report Post » historyguy48  
    • ozchambers
      Posted on July 23, 2012 at 10:01am

      That was really impressive how the officer got to that spot on Interstate at exactly the right time. I gotta say though that when he spent about 10 seconds going the wrong way on that other road, it was pretty tense. Still, if I were a trooper and heard of some person driving down Interstate in the wrong direction, I’d assume the guy was ready to kill himself and someone else and it was worth the risk to stop him ASAP.

      Report Post » ozchambers  
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