by Vehicle Identification Error
A police officer’s job is difficult, but one of its key aspects is the ability to correctly identify a fleeing vehicle. Unfortunately, for one random woman in Arkansas, this proved too difficult a task for a state trooper. He rammed her GMC Yukon, believing she was the driver who had just fled from him. The only problem was that he was supposed to be looking for a Buick Envista. Now he is looking for a new job.
How Could They Be Confused?
It’s not just about different emblems. The vehicles in question aren’t even remotely similar in silhouette or size.
The Buick Envista is a compact coupe-crossover, 182.6 inches (4638 mm) long with a sloping roofline. The involved GMC Yukon, likely a 2021–2023 model, is a full-size SUV. Judging by the video, it seems to be the extended XL version, 225.2 inches long, making the mix-up almost comically unbelievable. Unless, of course, you’re sitting in the driver’s seat of the affected vehicle.
The Beginning of the Pursuit
The pursuit began around 11:45 a.m. on January 18 when the trooper clocked a white Buick Envista traveling at 92 mph in a 60 mph zone on eastbound I-630. After stopping the vehicle near mile marker six, the trooper identified the driver as 38-year-old Johnny Williams from Little Rock.
According to police, the trooper, later identified by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette as Joshua Fitzgerald, detected a strong odor similar to marijuana and confirmed that Williams was driving with a suspended license. When Williams was ordered to exit the vehicle, he refused and fled the traffic stop, continuing east on I-630. Fitzgerald gave chase and reported the situation to dispatch but apparently lost sight of the Buick.
This is hard to reconcile with the dashcam footage, which clearly shows the Buick. Even when Fitzgerald ends up behind the GMC Yukon, the Buick is visible ahead in plain sight. Despite this, the trooper focuses on the Yukon and attempts to initiate a stop.
The GMC driver, likely confused, moves into the right lane, signals to exit the highway, and begins to slow down. It is then that Fitzgerald rams the vehicle. In his defense, he immediately acknowledges the mistake as soon as the driver exits. The passengers were unharmed.
Consequences of the Incident
Fitzgerald, who was hired in October 2024 and was still on probation, was immediately placed on administrative leave following the incident, and on Wednesday morning he was officially terminated, the Arkansas Department of Public Safety reported.
Colonel Mike Hagar, director of the state police, stated that the family who owned the Yukon would be compensated for the damages. Meanwhile, Williams surrendered to police a few days later. This is the second instance where an Arkansas trooper has used a PIT maneuver on an innocent driver.
Such incidents once again raise questions about proper training and pursuit protocols, especially for probationary officers. The speed of decision-making in high-pressure situations is undoubtedly high, but fundamental skills like visual identification must be an unshakable foundation. Compensating victims, while necessary, does not address systemic issues. This situation also demonstrates how crucial the quality of video recordings and objective evidence can be for investigating such events and ensuring accountability.
