We're starting off in Washington County, Ohio,
where the highway patrol has received a 911 call
from a frantic driver who's unable to stop
or even slow her vehicle.
This incident was captured on a 911 call, as
well as two trooper dash cams.
[screaming]
MATT ISEMAN: The terrified woman is navigating traffic at speeds
close to 100 miles per hour.
Troopers catch up to the woman and work
to devise a plan to get her to stop without injuring
herself or other motorists.
[siren]
[woman screaming]
MATT ISEMAN: The driver is so panicked
that another dispatcher joins the call
in an attempt to calm her down.
BECKY CANAVAN: Emma, this is Becky.
I need you to listen to me right now.
ANNOUNCER: One of the troopers has
gotten ahead of the terrified driver
in an attempt to clear a path.
But her vehicle continues to accelerate,
forcing her onto the shoulder past the trooper
and back into traffic.
MATT ISEMAN: They're concerned that if they tell
her to use her emergency brake, she'll
lose control of her vehicle.
MATT ISEMAN: The dispatcher takes a chance
and makes a risky suggestion.
MATT ISEMAN: Finally, the car slows, thanks
to the calm and clear instruction
from the dispatcher, whose heroics
ensured this incident was a rescue and not
a tragic accident.
MATT ISEMAN: Now joining us to discuss
this amazing rescue is Ohio State Highway Patrol
Dispatcher Becky Canavan.
So Becky, when you start talking to Emma,
did you sense her reacting to you?
Yes.
I could hear Emma's voice screaming through the phone,
just terrified.
I got her to focus on my voice.
That's why I tried to tell her my name,
connect in a personal level.
It got to a point where we just had to do something,
because she had enough fuel to go 40 miles.
MATT ISEMAN: Oh!
And we just knew that people weren't
going to get out of her way.
This was going to end badly if we didn't try something.
And you know, I didn't want her to just
slam on that emergency brake, and she
did exactly what I said.
I told her just try it a little bit,
and I think you could tell on the video
the change in tone of her voice when
she told me it was helping.
Emma, does it slow you down at all?
So you got to meet her in person?
Oh, yes, yeah.
And what she said to me was, I just can't
believe I didn't hurt anyone.
I said, you drove that vehicle amazingly.
Well, she had an angel on her shoulder and an angel
on the phone, too.
Yeah, thank you.
Thank you.
I think I had an angel on my shoulder, too.