Original subtitles

Twenty minutes, we check out.

Why should I be so tired?

We haven't done anything today.

That's why, no excitement.

The juices aren't flowing.

'Attention, all units. 11-80, possible fatalities.'

'Sierra Canyon at Bluebird drive.'

'Units responding, identify.'

LA 15, 7-Mary-3 and 4, from foothill at Maple.

'10-4, 7-Mary-3 and 4.'

'Northbound Hollywood Freeway at sunset.'

'Southbound Catalina Freeway..'

'Northbound Hollywood Freeway..'

Edward. Edward.

- Move back. - It's his heart!

- His heart.

Okay, get back out of the way. The car's on fire.

'It's his heart!'

'His heart.'

His heart!

Oh, my God.

Alright, he's doing good.

There's another one in there. We can't get him out.

The truck driver may be alive. I didn't want to move him.

- She'll be alright.

I don't know. I came around the curve just after.

She was asleep in the back seat. She heard a siren.

Siren?

Yes.

I heard it, too.

Officer! Over here!

- Medic. - Medic!

Well, we lost the truck driver

and the heart attack victim's dead.

- Eleven dead. - Yeah.

Well, Sindy's the only witness who can help us.

'Keep me informed, huh?'

Reroute the traffic through Bluebird Drive, okay, Grossie?

Yes, sir. How's Sindy?

She's unconscious, but she's alive.

With one of our units involved or when there's, uh, no one

to tell us what happened, a MAIT investigation is automatic.

"MAIT Is that outside help?

Multidisciplinary accident investigation team.

Specialists in the department.

Uh, these two men are physical evidence experts.

Oh, uh, Bill Margolis, Pacific Western Life.

'Uh, Baker, Poncherello.'

- Hello. - Yeah.

We represent Barbara Daniels.

Her husband was the one who had the heart attack.

Oh, yeah. Sorry we lost him.

Mrs. Daniels and some other people

said they heard a siren.

Was this Cahill in pursuit?

- Uh, we don't know. - Well, you must know.

- She'd have to call in. - Well, if she had time.

Now, look..

...I've got a client to service, a widow, okay?

I need a blame assessment. How soon can I get it?

Hey, we just left a lady in the hospital, who happens

to be a fellow officer. How soon does she get out of danger?

Yeah. If that doesn't choke you up, think about this one.

I mean, she's your only living witness.

Bill, these men had to deal with 11 dead bodies out there

and Sindy Cahill just barely missed being number 12.

- I know. - Then act like you know, man.

We're not the enemy.

Okay. I'm sorry.

I'm new at this.

But how soon? Give me a guess.

No, Bill.

Just keep in touch, huh?

Okay, uh, you guys are on the MAIT team.

Meet the van at the impound garage at 6:00 in the morning.

Let's go

Fine.

Yes, I-I understand.

Well, you're welcome. Anytime.

But I think you ought to know our side of it, too, senator.

Fine. Well, we'll be looking for you, senator. Right. Bye.

State Senator Bob Larwin.

He's gonna use this if he can. Oh, you got something?

Yeah, I want to show you before I move it.

Okay.

I've photographed this. It was all over the place.

French fries and a half-eaten pickle.

Well..

...until we can talk to Sindy, don't mention this, huh?

'Don't mention what, sergeant?'

Something about the car or Officer Cahill?

I'm sure you wouldn't risk leaving anything out.

No. Now, nothing was wrong with my husband.

- Even the autopsy has said so. - That's true, Mrs. Harris.

But, uh, mental and emotional factors are important, too.

Now, if there were any kind of stress, like financial--

There's no problems. There's absolutely none!

He brought home every single paycheck.

All the bills are paid. Look, he didn't drink.

'He doesn't play around, he..'

The man won awards for safe driving.

Eleven years without even denting a fender.

Uh, yes, Mrs. Harris, we've checked his record.

If we had more drivers like him

our job would be a lot easier.

I appreciate you talking to us about him.

Listen...if my husband caused that accident up there

he would be the first one to say so.

But if that girl did it..

...I hope you'd do the same.

I drove down from Fresno.

We had a bite to eat..

...and I was tired.

My husband said he'd drive us on home.

The siren woke me up

and just, just as I started to sit up..

...he called my name.

'Barbara!'

I-I-I don't know how it happened.

I-I just don't know.

That's all we need right now, Mrs. Daniels.

Take it easy.

You have anyone staying with you right now?

Her brother is here.

- Mm-hmm.

I know this hasn't been easy for you.

I also know you're a lady with a lot of courage.

You're gonna be alright.

Thank you.

- Alright. - Thank you.

You're right.

You're not the enemy.

Hey, you got to watch everybody on a big job like this.

Yeah, some of these guys will rob you blind.

Did you hear a siren?

Yeah, I believe I did. Yeah.

- Uh, no.

I was inside my van, logging in some deliveries

and, like I said, I heard the crash down there..

...and I jumped out to take a look.

It was all over with.

Gee, there was cars everywhere.

Do you know of anyone who might've seen it happen?

Uh, no, sir, but if you go up and talk to Mr. Fratangelo

he's the foreman. He might know.

Okay. Thank you.

How often do you want a wind indicator reading?

Well, the accident occurred at 5:17.

Take one every half-hour till 5:00.

After that, every five minutes till 5:30.

You got it.

That's it, Ponch.

Anderson.

Look, uh, that's where Sindy went over.

If it doesn't mess up your next sequence

maybe you could plot her next move, huh?

Sure.

Two ninety eight, where you lost sight of me

I'm gonna go the other way.

Got to be a quarter-mile.

Alright.

Want to start some psychrometer readings?

'Sure.'

- Psychrometer.

Measures dew point and relative humidity.

Amount of moisture in the air and on the surface.

- That's a wind indicator.

Measures wind velocity and direction.

Okay!

Excuse me.

What do you got?

Oh, superelevation .05 here.

'Three degrees at maximum curve.'

'No, no, I mean that.'

Oh, it's the letter "R." I just found it, right there.

Yeah, well, check it out.

"Mighty oaks from little acorns grow."

Alright. Maybe I'll plant it and, uh, grow alphabet soup.

Have you figured Sindy's moves out yet?

No, not completely.

Uh, the reason I ask is

Mr. Margolis isn't sure

how diligent we are when one of our own is involved.

You're right, sarge. Come on.

Yeah, Sindy impacted the truck right here, uh

and it threw her into a spin

about a quarter of a turn.

She laid this patchwork pushing on the accelerator

not the brake.

Then she gunned it, went across the road

and ended up in the gully.

For the moment, what we don't understand is she was

on the truck's side of the road and the truck was on her side.

Yeah, but you couldn't swear under oath right now

that Cahill didn't cause the accident.

He's a nuisance.

But you know who Bob Larwin is, state senate?

Yeah, well, he's descending on this and he's trouble.

'And everybody agrees they heard a siren'

but no chartered agency was running a code 3 around here.

We're checking the private ambulances

but that'll take time.

Could the heart attack victim have caused this?

No, we don't think so. He came from the eastbound side.

The truck lost control.

He hit the truck just as it stopped.

Blocked traffic. We feel that the heart attack followed.

Well, what about speed as a factor?

From the tire tracks, the highest speed

we can figure is 45.

Looks like everyone was within the speed limit..

...excepting maybe Sindy.

Doc! How's she doing?

Better. Periods of consciousness this afternoon.

But she's still not able to talk yet.

Let us know when she is. It's important.

How's if I have someone to bring water for your flowers?

Super! When she does come to, you know

these'll be there to cheer her up.

Go on in.

Thank you.

She's improving.

Broken clavicle.

Collar bone.

No problem.

Scalp laceration wasn't deep.

Her concussion was severe, but there was no fracture.

I see you brought some flowers.

Yeah. A little, yeah.

Sarge and his wife..

...Baricza and Fritz.

Girls at the office.

Family back east.

Harlan and Dave the dog.

And these are my..

...long-stems.

- Oh. Here. - Oh.

Well, yours are nice.

Very nice.

Neither Sindy Cahill's car

nor the truck had any mechanical defect.

Neither one had a flat tire.

Alright, all this scientific stuff is fine

but what about the basic question

why was Cahill running a code 3

on the wrong side of the road?

Look, Bill, I know there's a big payday in this for you

if you sue the state and win

but I wish you'd quit trying quite so hard.

Well, that is not fair.

Well, is prejudging Cahill fair?

Joe, in this case, as in any case

the criminal in flight is in a state of panic

and therefore potentially lethal.

Hot police pursuit is not going to help that any.

It's only going to increase the danger.

Now, you're supposed to be and I know you mean to be

out there saving lives.

Not...contributing to

or causing these dreadful tragedies.

And we're guilty until proven innocent. Is that it?

No, Joe, not before the law.

You have license to break the law

and that's what I oppose.

Troops, this is, uh, State Senator Bob Larwin.

Anderson, graphics, Maps, photography.

Welsh, Caltrans technician.

Cheng, chemistry.

And Borlov, interrogations.

We have ways of making people talk.

Baker and Poncherello

comedy and physical evidence.

M-A-I-T headquarters.

Perez, our psychologist, is out doing interviews.

- Sergeant, telephone. - Oh, excuse me.

Getraer.

Yeah. Great.

Yes, that is good news.

And it couldn't have come at a better time.

We found our siren.

It was a private ambulance, uh

running a burn victim north on Bluebird Drive.

We're doing our very best to disappoint you, senator.

Joe, please don't imply that I'm against you

because my record proves that I'm not.

Okay, we've provided you with all the reports

and photographs that we have.

What about the pickle and the French fries

found in Cahill's car?

The fries were cold, and the pickle was kosher.

Could the girl have been eating while she was driving?

Senator, Cindy Cahill is not a "girl."

She's a highway patrol officer, for one thing.

For another, that question's not germane

to your case against hot pursuit.

I'll provide the answer when I get it.

Ford Motor Company says the serial numbers on the back

puts the R in the ornament letters of a '67 half-ton truck.

And you want the motor vehicle department

to tell you which one.

Hey, they only made 46,000

and the lab says this one's light blue. Easy, right?

You see, a lot of them that old are out of commission by now.

I'll have something by 1994.

Hey, look, there was no Ford involved

in the wreckage in Sierra Canyon.

Now, if this one's involved

it may be a felony hit-and-run.

I mean, 11 people died.

I'll have something by tomorrow.

Thank you.

We'll duplicate the truck and the CHP cruiser.

Same weight, same kind of tires, same inflation and mileage.

Well, one chrome-plated "R." What are my bid?

I'll let you wash my motorcycle.

The DMV read out 11 blue '67 half-tons

all within a ten mile radius of here.

Two closer than two miles

and I'm going to the nearest one now.

You guys join me there as soon as you're finished, hmm?

This might break it up, you know?

Well, run your tests and let's get on it.

Well, we copy the moves of the vehicles involved

at 45 miles an hour, because that's the limit here.

Then we compare the photographs

and the measurements of the skids

and analyze the rubber residue.

Then we can pin down the different speeds

when the accident happened.

Okay, uh, let's get out of the way.

We got this part of it figured right.

He crossed in front of her, she gunned it to try to miss him.

Yeah. If he was trying to miss her

he would've curved like I did.

He would've cut it hard like Ponch did

and like Sindy did.

But I thought you guys were testing for speed.

That, too, senator, but tire tracks tell us a lot of things.

But they don't tell you everything.

They don't tell you why she was driving

on the wrong side of the road.

- Good afternoon, ma'am.

Joe Getraer, highway patrol.

Is Kenneth Thomas here?

Uh, no. Not anymore.

He-he was before we moved in. He's gone.

He may be able to help us with some information

about a traffic accident.

LA 15, S-4

in pursuit of blue '67 ford half-ton

'Seven six five one three, David.'

7-Adam, Mary-3, Mary-4.

S-4 in pursuit of that half-ton.

I don't know what he's up to.

'He's headed your way on Bluebird.'

Senator, what do you think?

Should our guys slow down?

Turn around. Put your hands on your head. Move!

You know, I never should've run.

You know, I knew you guys were gonna catch me

and I'm sorry.

Sorry, we caught you.

Sorry doesn't mean much to a corpse, you know?

Hey, listen, I didn't hurt anybody, you know?

I mean, it's mostly the parking tickets, right?

I mean, my wife kept warning me, you know that?

- 'Yeah.'

Yeah, there are warrants out on me, man. You know?

I mean, uh, we got a baby now. You know, I don't have a dime.

You know, I lose my license or lose my job

I'll lose my house. You know, I'll lose everything.

That's what I'm sayin', it's the traffic tickets, right?

Huh?

The letter fell off.

I mean, those letters fall off, okay?

I mean, it's an old truck...right?

You did know about the accident?

No. Well, I mean, yeah.

I read about it in the newspapers.

Only we can't afford to fix the TV, you know what I mean?

How did you happen to stop at that spot the day before?

Look, I already told you, the engine quit.

It wasn't that day, it was the day before that..

...in the morning, when I was on my way to a job.

That's it.

In other words, you mean to prevent me from seeing her.

I advise you against it, as I did the sergeant.

Well, what about Poncherello and Baker?

They're not authority figures. You are.

She's weak, and I don't want that kind

of pressure on her now.

The minute I knew where I was, I figured it out.

I said, "Sindy, you've had an accident."

You wanna tell me about it?

Well, the doctor said you should try to remember.

Remember what you did that day.

Now, you didn't log out for lunch. Did you eat?

Well, yeah. A burger, fries, and a pickle.

It was a little drive-through place where I always go.

I didn't leave the car, so I didn't log out.

Nineteenth and Highland, right?

And you responded to an 11-83

and you took your burger with you.

No. I ate it. Why?

Well, because we found fries and a pickle in the car.

Uh, excuse me, half a pickle.

My pickle? I never even ate my pickle.

Oh, oh, okay, alright. We'll buy you a new one, alright?

Will you guys tell me one thing?

Was it bad? And was I to blame?

Uh, Sindy, that's two things.

Bad? Yes. Bad enough to put you here. Blame--

We're not looking for, uh, blame. We're looking for cause.

Right.

Well, didn't you guys have any witnesses?

Well, none that are any help.

- Hey, hey, hey, come on, now.

If you were in trouble, don't you think we'd tell you so?

Yeah, the minute we find out something, we'll let you know

and the minute you remember, you let us know, huh?

Okay, so, start trying to think of something pleasant

like when I gave her mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

Remember?

- Yes.

- 'No, no.'

Wait till I remember it the first time.

See whether or not I liked it.

Alright. Now, don't worry about anything.

Everything is cool. You want anything?

Just my pickle.

Oh, she's gonna be okay.

She doesn't remember, but, uh, that's normal.

Oh, she just doesn't remember?

Bob, if there was a conspiracy here

I wouldn't have called you to tell you she was conscious.

Okay, here's what we're sure of.

Cahill and the truck collided at A.

She spun counterclockwise, gunned across the road

and over the side at B.

The truck locked its brakes

just after the impact at A, and overcorrected

again to the left

'and ended up here at C.'

Car number four..

'...skidded under the truck and ended up here.'

Car number two followed car three

'hit it and the truck at D.'

Car number 5, moving eastbound

car number 1, moving westbound

both tried to pass behind the truck..

...and hit head-on...at E.

Don't we have a witness to that?

No. He didn't see it happen.

This is a man at the checkpoint for the construction site

'just east of the curve and above it.'

'Several people up there heard the crash'

and he stepped out of his van just in time

to see cars one and five explode.

Then he didn't see what Cahill did?

No. She was off the road by then.

And incidentally, he did not see a blue half-ton pickup truck.

Ah, it's a false trail.

The truck wasthere

but it was the morning before.

We checked it out.

Gentlemen, let me say something.

I know how you interpret the skid marks at point A.

However, it seems more logical to me

that Cahill realized she was on the wrong side.

And while trying to get back to where she belonged..

...she was hit by the truck.

And a loaded truck just couldn't

maneuver fast enough to avoid her.

Well, that's not necessarily the case.

'If they were converging on the same spot..'

There's one chance of proving how it happened

and maybe finding out why.

Oh, what's that?

Go up there and reenact it.

Are you kidding?

You know how much that would cost?

Take it out of my salary.

I'll see if I can get it approved.

Okay. We're gonna run this thing first at 15 miles an hour.

Now, I'll stop you if I see anything wrong

but don't wait for me if you see anything wrong,

alright

- Okay. - Okay, let's hit it.

Hi.

Jon, we both stay on the wrong side this time, right?

Right, Ponch.

Watch the passing maneuver. Don't take any chances.

Everybody okay?

Piece of cake.

Doesn't car five do anything?

Later, Grossman.

What have you proved, Joe?

No matter who was on the wrong side first

Cahill and the truck would've passed each other on their right

if they had just stayed there.

Okay, anybody see anything that might've caused

Ponch or me to go across the line?

- Nothing. - Nope.

You wanna try my end of it, at speed?

- Sure. - Alright.

Hold your speed at 40, I'll be beside you when

the truck comes around the curve, alright?

Okay.

Sarge, we're gonna run

what we think Sindy did at speed.

Okay. Don't cut it too close.

You need car 5 now?

No, Grossie. Just sit tight.

Hey, you must've played a lot of chicken back in Wyoming.

I'll tell you one thing, we'll never

do it again with a loaded truck.

- Hey, you missed me, man. - No, no, no.

You missed me.

Hey, sarge, I don't know how that truck

got on the other side of the line

but I'll tell you one thing believe it or not

Sindy did one heck of a piece of driving.

Yeah, she went off the road on purpose..

...to get out of the way.

Alright, that's enough, I..

...don't want to see any more of this.

I'll accept the argument.

Wait a minute. Wait a minute. I don't.

Now, Bill, you just saw..

Uh, what I saw just scared the way out of me.

But you're assuming that the truck

went on the wrong side first.

Now, you haven't proven anything

and you haven't shown why.

Joe, if you want to do any more of this, um..

...I'll ask you to take me down.

Hey. Hey, sarge?

Was something being delivered up there

at the time of the accident?

Hold on, Ponch.

How about it?

Uh, yeah. That's why I didn't see the accident, uh..

See, I'd just checked in some..

Let's see, it was roofing paper and, uh..

...uh, just a second.

Uh..

Yeah, here it is.

Uh, Ponch, they delivered some roofing paper

and some fireplace mirrors, a truckload of 'em.

Get one up there by 5 o'clock.

Go on up.

Okay, the truck clock stopped at 5:17

and that means we have to hit that curve

at exactly 5:17, okay?

- Excuse me. - Yeah. What I'm trying to--

Grossie, I don't think we'll need car five, alright?

Yeah, I'm learning to live with that.

But what I'm trying to tell you

is that sunset today is six minutes earlier

than it was the day of the accident.

I know that. What I... That's right, Ponch.

Hey, sarge, the sunset is gonna be at 5:11.

We got to hit that curve at 5:11.

Everybody mount up. Come on.

Okay, all drivers, go.

Go.

I can't see.

Well?

Now I believe you.

Car five?

10-4, sarge. Coming right up.

I have some passengers for you to take back into town.

Hello, gentlemen.

I just wanted to meet her before leaving town.

I wanted to assure her that there was

no shadow of a doubt in my mind about what she did..

...and how she did it.

But he still opposes hot pursuit.

Well..

Oh, well, so do we, senator.

Kills and disables a lot of us.

You get speeders and reckless drivers

and criminals to cooperate

and I promise you..

...we'll slow down.

I'll try my best.

Okay, now, did you remember everything?

Hey, hey, relax, will you?

Yeah, okay. I got the tape, um..

- You've got the tape.

- Here's the card.

Here's the machine, and now..

...you just try and relax, partner

because, uh, you can trust me.

Well, would you say they'd hire a patrol person?

Hi, you guys.

They told me what you did.

That was really above and beyond the call, you know?

Look, we're gonna quit the highway patrol

and start a new thrill show, huh?

Well, I thank you guys.

Maybe someday I'll remember what for.

What's that?

A little surprise from all the guys.

Music for my lady. Everybody chipped in.

And here's the card.

And here's your favorite jazz group.

Uh-huh.

B-Flat Junior! That's great!

And all of you guys signed the card?

'Mm-hmm.'

That's terrific. Thanks.

Here, put it in.

- Okay. - Here, like that.

Yeah. Go ahead, turn it on.

What's the matter with it?

Oh..

I forgot the batteries.

I'll be right back, okay?

Huh? I'll be right...oh..