Wednesday 12th January 2005

Man hangs onto bucking Mustang

Calls cops while thief drives off at 80mph

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Hanging onto the back of your car as it's being stolen, and phoning the police while doing so is quite a feat. One US man managed it, as a thief drove off at speeds of up to 80mph. Tony Young managed to call 911 on his mobile phone as his Ford Mustang Coupe sped through Flint, Michigan.

He said he was determined to hang on to his beloved car as it had been stolen before but admitted he thought he was a 'goner'. Young told the Flint Journal: "I wasn't letting it go again. That car's my pride and joy."

The car was stolen from his home after a woman took his keys but Young got a friend to give him a lift and soon spotted the car at a stop sign. He challenged the driver but the car sped off. Young jumped on the back of the car and managed to grab hold of the rear spoiler.

As the car went faster and faster and swerved back and forth, Young hung on and gave police a running commentary. At one stage, he was hanging on to the back of the car and skiing with his feet on the snowy road. He says he thought he was going to die when the car turned on to a motorway.

The chase finally ended when the thief stopped the car and fled on foot. He was caught by police about 10 minutes. Young was -- amazing -- unhurt, despite the fact that he recently had back surgery and is on sick leave from work.

[corcoran]

Ah Flint, Michigan.. it's a pity the driver didn't run down Michael Moore on his crazy 80mph death-run.

[tomtvr]

heard about this on the radio, wonder what his work think about him being on sick leave? 'if your fit enough to ride on top of cars then your fit enough to work'

[victormeldrew]

My guess is he'll be extending his sick leave, its unlikely to have improved through the ordeal!

Fair play to him for having a go though. Hope the tealeaf gets done for ABH or something similar as well.

[RickH]

I hope he wasn't claiming any sickness benefit of any kind. This sort of publicity could get him in hot water for being more than recouperated.

Still, good effort.

Rick

[raftom]

One only possible comment:

[EmmaP]

Fantastic! It could only happen in America. I wouldn't want to let go of that car either! I'd love to see his boss's face when he or she sees that on the news.

[nickwilcock]

The thief should have every finger bone in each hand broken with a surgical hammer at the rate of one every 5 minutes.....

[k2iss]

nickwilcock said:

The thief should have every finger bone in each hand broken with a surgical hammer at the rate of one every 5 minutes.....

What a strange idea. Hope you are not working in an hospital

[nickwilcock]

Nope - just hate thieves!

Whatever one might think about Moslem shari'a laws, their treatment of thieves seems pretty sound to me!