McWilliams
A Century man who ran several motorists off the road while traveling south in the northbound lane of Highway 31 Saturday night faces multiple charges after concerned citizens blocked his vehicle in the median at the intersection adjacent to the Tri-County Speedway.
Michael Orlando McWilliams, 45, 69 Ashford Alley, was arrested and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and issued multiple traffic citations that included reckless driving and driving on the wrong side of the road.
Escambia County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Mike Lambert said he was heading south on Highway 31 heading from Brewton to Flomaton in his personal vehicle about 11:45 p.m. Saturday and as he approached the area near Owen's Customizing he began noticing southbound traffic ahead of him swerving to the shoulder of the road on the right side.
He said he then saw what he thought were vehicle headlights coming toward him and other vehicles traveling north in the southbound lane.
"When he got close, I had to go the shoulder to get out of the way," Lambert said.
Lambert said he crossed the median to get to the northbound lane and called dispatch to have deputies in route to intercept the vehicle. He said two other people had previously crossed the median and were trying to intercept the vehicle.
Lambert said as he was trying to catch the vehicle, two more vehicles were run off the road. He added that the BMW McWilliams was driving then sped up.
"When he got to the intersection at Old Highway 31 at the race track he tried to cross the median," Lambert said. "The two vehicles ahead of me boxed him in."
"They were the heroes," Lambert said of the two cars that boxed McWilliams in. "They went above and beyond the call of duty in their personal vehicles to keep somebody from getting hurt or killed."
Lambert said he pulled up right after the other two vehicles had blocked McWilliams in, approached the vehicle and had him turn off the ignition.
Deputies shortly arrived on the scene and McWilliams was placed under arrest for DUI and transported to the Escambia County Detention Center where he remained for 16 hours before being released on bond. Lambert said he issued the traffic citations because he witnessed the driving himself.
Lambert also said McWilliams said he was coming from Evergreen heading to Flomaton and apparently came down Highway 113. When he reached the intersection at Highway 113 and Highway 31 he went left, instead of right, and entered the southbound lane.
"We're lucky nobody got hurt," Lambert said. "Those two vehicles that blocked him in probably saved a life."
