Many drivers aren’t the biggest fans of cameras in and around their trucks. But others like that dash cams can help prove that they were not at fault during accidents. Sometimes, the footage can even help law enforcement track down other motorists who are driving dangerously. In fact, one driver used dash cam footage to help officers track down offenders twice in two days.
When trucking veteran Howard Salmon who has 32 years behind the wheel was handed a dash cam by a friend about a year ago, his first reaction was to reject it. But his friend was a home security specialist who told him just to try it, so Salmon gave it a shot.
“I kept it on, kept my chip in it, didn’t worry too much about keeping the windshield clean. For the last year, nothing’s happened, but I decided, big deal, it’s there,” he said according to Overdrive.
But then earlier this month he was driving in Palmetto, Florida when an SUV driving on the shoulder of a highway to bypass traffic caused an accident, hitting another vehicle so hard it tore a wheel right off. Salmon’s dash cam caught the whole thing which you can see in the embedded video below.
Then the very next day in Sarasota, Florida, Salmon’s camera caught a reckless driver leave the road and driving on the grass in order to pass another car on the right, narrowly avoiding hitting two pedestrians. The driver later told police that he was just trying to avoid an accident, but you can watch the dash cam footage below to see for yourself. You can also notice later on in the video at around the 0:19 second mark that Salmon takes out a piece of paper to write down the car’s license plate number.
“He was just in a big old hurry. He just wanted to get around. He didn’t want to wait,” said Salmon in an interview with Fox13.
Salmon then called the police and showed them the footage. Police were able to use the footage and license plate number to track down the driver and charge him with reckless driving.
Max says
kinda warms the cockles of your heart knowing technology did some good.
Roger says
What I find amazing about this incident is how everyone sitting there obviously SAW pretty much what the trucker saw, yet he was the ONLY one to stop & render aid. Perhaps everyone else “indirectly’ involved decided not to stop because they didn’t see anyone jump out with some sort of camera recording? Not to discount these “feel good” scenes we see go “viral” & play out over & over on YouTube or the news about hordes of people jumping in to help, but I get the feeling people aren’t interested in “doing the right thing” if they “think” they won’t garner some type of 15 min fame position. Kudos to the driver that stopped. Had the 4-wheelers next to him KNOWN a dash cam was recording, they might have stopped too?
Archie W Silva says
You almost got two people killed !! Driver in second video did that because you were driving too slow in hammer lane!! You dummy!!!! We all hate poor unsafe drivers like you !!! Just thinking about yourself!!!! SWIFT driver obviously. !!!
Mike says
Well, lets ask this question. How do you know he wasn’t making a left turn up ahead? Trucks have just as much right to be in the left lane where allowed just as you are. And I’ll also add this comment directed to you, The truck driver didn’t almost get 2 people killed, the driver of the blue car did. The driver of the blue car made the choice to do what he did, The truck driver, the other car, or even god himself didn’t make that decision. The driver of the blue car did, and if the potential of what could of happened did indeed occur, it would be 110% at fault of the blue car.
Its sad and disheartening on why people think that it is ok to pass the blame to everyone else but the person that caused the situation in the first place, an impatient person driving a car that maybe saved 5 seconds in his day by doing this deadly act.
Todd says
I agree with you Mike, If I need to make a turn ahead I will start to make a move to get in the correct lane a mile or two before the turn. This is the safest way to do it and mostly because 4 wheelers will not let you over.
Robert Maberry says
Totally agree . Had he been in the right lane. Where he belongs. incendent would not have occurred.
Reno Blues says
So you never had to take the left lane for any reason? Just wondering where you’re driving.
Troy says
There’s no such thing as a “hammer lane” on city street. Theres a left lane and a right lane. If you need to make a turn you better be in the lane you need to turn from well in advance.. This isn’t Mexico
MusicMan says
Good job Mr. Salmon and technology. I hope they burn both those idiots. The second one should get a wanton endangerment charge because of the two pedestrians.
Dan the Man says
Hopefully he doesn’t have to show up in court as a witness. I wouldn’t offer evidence unless it was all they needed or even with a signed affidavit
Hacec says
Trucking veteran at the age of 32?
TruckersReport News says
He’s been a trucker for 32 years. Thanks for pointing this out, the story has been changed to make it clearer!
Vickie Hollis says
The second video in Sarasota FL was right before the St Armand’s bridge. I thought I recognized the area.
Kudo’s to you Mr. Salmon!!
BASEBALL bat says
Millions of these a year, and only 2 get noticed. Hmmm…
BASEBALL bat says
Good job though, on the drivers part. Wish the police would take this more seriously.
Gary Tate says
I’m the second video, that guy did all of that, just to get to a red light and stop. That’s why I keep saying; regulating the hell out of us is not going to stop 4-wheelers from doing stupid things. Also, the guy who is blaming the trucker, I guess he’s saying he would done what driver of the did.