About a week ago, a vehicle was stopped at a red light on a busy road in Florida. I was in the left turn lane, and after a few moments, I began to turn while also reversing. On March 13, multiple callers informed the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office that a silver sedan was traveling the wrong way on SR 100.
The Crime Center was able to track the vehicle to a Panda Express parking lot. Eventually, deputies intercepted the car near SR 100 and Airport Road after it turned and headed in the correct direction, per the sheriff’s office.
The driver, 47-year-old William Murphy III from Palm Coast, explained that his car had a mechanical issue, and he thought it best to reverse to AutoZone for help. Interestingly, the sheriff’s office quipped, “His mechanical problems seemed to vanish when deputies got behind him… or were they in front?”
Here’s a brief exchange from the incident:
Deputy (through loudspeaker): “Stop! Park here! Stop!”
Deputy: “We received calls about a car going the wrong way!”
Driver: “My car is stuck in reverse.”
Murphy went on to say, “I didn’t think I was that bad… you see what I mean? I wasn’t even turning or speeding…” to which the deputy replied, “You were going the wrong way on the road!” This back-and-forth continued, with the driver trying to justify his situation.
Ultimately, deputies arrested Murphy for driving with a suspended or revoked license—which he had done more than ten times previously. After being taken to the Perry Hall Sheriff Detention Center, he was released on $1,000 bail.
More than 200 comments flooded the sheriff’s Facebook page regarding the incident, with many expressing amusement. One user humorously noted, “Grandpa was probably more than 90% good at driving,” while another said, “Florida Man never fails to amaze me.” Various others added their thoughts, pointing out inconsistencies in Murphy’s story and making light of the situation.
Overall, it seems that many found humor in the peculiar events surrounding this incident.
