CHiPs (1977–1983): Season 2, Episode 15 - MAIT Team - full transcript

Twenty minutes, we check out.

Why should I be tired? We
haven't done anything today.

That's why, no excitement.
The juices aren't flowing.

Attention, all units. 1
1-80, possible fatalities.

Sierra Canyon at Bluebird
Drive. Units responding, identif y.

L.A. 15, 7 Mary 3 and
4, from Foothill at Maple.

10-4, 7 Mary 3 and 4.

Edward. Edward!

- Look out.
- It's his heart.

What? BARBARA: His heart.

Okay, get back, get out of
the way. The car's on fire.



It's his heart!

His heart.

His heart.

Oh, my God.

You'll all right. He's safe now.

Another one in there.
We can't get him out.

The truck driver may be
alive. I didn't wanna move him.

- She'll be all right.
- What happened?

I don't know, I came
around the curve just after.

She was asleep in the
back seat. She heard a siren.

Siren?

Yes.

I heard it too.

Officer! Over here!



- Medic.
- Medic!

Well, we lost the truck driver
and the heart-attack victim's dead.

- Eleven dead.
- Yeah.

Well, Sindy's the only witness who
can help us. Keep me informed, huh?

Reroute the traffic through
Bluebird Drive, okay, Grossie?

Yes, sir. How's Sindy?

She's unconscious,
but she's alive.

With our units involved, when there's
no one to tell us what happened...

- a MAIT investigation is automatic.
- MAIT? What's MAIT? Is that outside help?

Multidisciplinary Accident
Investigation Team.

Specialists in the department.

These two men are
physical-evidence experts.

- How's Sindy doing?
- The same. What's up?

Oh, Bill Margolis, Pacific
Western Life. Baker, Poncherello.

Hello.

We represent Barbara Daniels. Her husband
was the one who had the heart attack.

Oh, yeah. Sorry we lost him.

Mrs. Daniels and some other
people said they heard a siren.

- Was this Cahill in pursuit?
- We don't know.

You must know.
She'd have to call in.

Well, if she had time.

Now, look.

I've got a client to
service, a widow, okay?

I need a blame assessment.
How soon can I get it?

We just left a lady in the hospital,
who happens to be a fellow officer.

How soon does she
get out of danger?

Yeah, if that doesn't choke you up, think
about this: she's your only living witness.

Bill, these men had to deal
with 11 dead bodies out there...

and Sindy Cahill just barely
missed being number 12.

- I know.
- Then act like you know, man.

We're not the enemy.

Okay, I'm sorry.

I'm new at this.

But how soon? Give me a guess.

No, Bill.

Just keep in touch, huh?

Okay. You guys are
on the MAIT team.

Meet the van at the impound
garage at 6 in the morning.

Let's go.

Fine.

Yes.

I understand.

Okay, well, you're
welcome. Anytime.

But I think you ought to
know our side of it too, senator.

Fine. Well, we'll be looking
for you, senator. Right, bye.

State Senator Bob Larwin.

He's gonna use this, if he
can. You got something?

Yeah, I want to show
you before I move it.

Okay.

I photographed this. It
was all over the place.

French fries and
a half-eaten pickle.

Well...

until we can talk to
Sindy, don't mention this.

Don't mention what, sergeant?
Something about the car or Officer Cahill?

I'm sure you wouldn't
risk leaving anything out.

No. Now, nothing was
wrong with my husband.

Even the autopsy has said so.

That's true, Mrs. Harris, but mental
and emotional factors are important.

If there's any kind of stress, like financial...
- There's no problems.

There's absolutely none.

He brought home every single
paycheck, all the bills are paid.

He didn't drink, he
doesn't play around. He...

The man won awards for safe driving,
11 years without even denting a fender.

Yes, Mrs. Harris, we've
checked his record.

If we had more drivers like
him, our job would be a lot easier.

- I appreciate you talking to us about it.
- Listen.

If my husband caused
that accident up there...

he would be the
first one to say so.

But if that girl did it...

I hope you do the same.

I drove down from Fresno.

We had a bite to
eat and I was tired.

My husband said
he'd drive us on home.

The siren woke me up and
just as I started to sit up...

he called my name.

Barbara.

I... I don't... I don't know how
it happened. I just don't know.

That's all we need right now,
Mrs. Daniels. Take it easy.

- Do you have anyone staying with you?
- Her brother is here.

- Good. You taking her home?
- Mm-hm.

I know this hasn't
been easy for you.

I also know you're a lady with a lot
of courage. You're gonna be all right.

- Thank you.
- All right.

Thank you.

You're right.

You're not the enemy.

Yeah, you gotta watch
everybody on a big job like this.

Some of these guys
will rob you blind.

Did you hear a siren?

- Yeah, I believe I did, yeah.
- But you didn't look to see?

No, I was inside my van,
logging in some deliveries...

and like I said, I heard
the crash down there...

and I jumped out to take a look.

It was all over with.

Jeez, there was cars everywhere.

Do you know of anyone who
might have seen it happen?

No, sir, but go up and
talk to Mr. Fratangello...

he's the foreman, he might know.

Okay, thank you.

How often do you want
a wind-indicator reading?

The accident occurred at 5:17.

Take one every half-hour till 5,
after that every five minutes till 5:30.

You got it.

That's it, Ponch!

Anderson.

This is where Sindy went over.

If it doesn't mess up your sequence,
maybe you could plot her next move.

Sure.

Two ninety-eight where you lost
sight of me. I'm going the other way.

- Gotta be a quarter mile.
- All right.

Better start some psychrometer readings.
- Sure.

What's that?

Psychrometer. Measures
dew point and relative humidity.

The amount of moisture in
the air and on the surface.

- And this?
- That's a wind indicator.

It measures wind
velocity and direction.

Okay.

Excuse me.

What have you got?

Superelevation, 0.05 here.
Three degrees at maximum curve.

No, no, I mean that.

It's a letter R, I just
found it right there.

Yeah, well, check it out.

Mighty oaks from
little acorns grow.

Maybe I'll plant it and
grow alphabet soup.

Have you figured
Sindy's moves out yet?

No, not completely.

The reason I ask is Mr. Margolis
isn't sure how diligent we are...

- when one of our own is involved.
- You're right, sarge. Come on.

Sindy impacted
the truck right here.

And it threw her into a spin,
about a quarter of a turn.

She laid this patchwork pushing
on the accelerator, not the brake.

And she gunned it, went across
the road, and ended up in the gully.

She was on the
truck side of the road...

and the truck was on her side.

But you couldn't swear under oath
that Cahill didn't cause the accident.

He's a nuisance.

But you know who Bob
Larwin is, state senate?

Yeah, well, he's descending
on this, and he's trouble.

Now, everybody agrees
they heard a siren...

but no chartered agency was
running a Code 3 around here.

We're checking the private
ambulances, but that will take time.

Could the heart-attack
victim have caused this?

We don't think so. He came
from the eastbound side.

The truck had lost control, he
hit the truck just as it stopped.

Blocked traffic, we feel
that the heart attack followed.

Now, what about
speed as a factor?

From the tire tracks, the
highest speed we can figure is 45.

Looks like everyone was
within the speed limit...

excepting maybe Sindy.

Doc.

- How's she doing?
- Better.

Periods of consciousness
this afternoon...

but she's still not
able to talk yet.

Mm. Let us know when
she is. It's important.

How's if I have someone
bring water for your flowers?

Super. When she does come to, you
know, these will be there to cheer her up.

- Go on in.
- Thank you.

She's improving.

Broken clavicle.

Collarbone?

No problem.

Scalp laceration wasn't deep.

Her concussion was severe,
but there was no fracture.

I see you brought some flowers.

Oh.

A little, yeah.

Sarge and his wife.

Baricza and Fritz.

Girls at the office.

Family back east.

Harlan and Dave the dog.

And these are my... long stems.

Here.

Well, yours are nice.

Very nice.

Neither Sindy Cahill's car nor the
truck had any mechanical defect.

Neither one had a flat tire.

All this scientific stuff is fine,
but what about the basic question?

Why was Cahill running a Code
3 on the wrong side of the road?

Look, Bill, I know there's a
big payday in this for you...

if you sue the state and win...

but I wish you'd quit
trying quite so hard.

Oh, that is not fair.

Well, is prejudging Cahill fair?

Joe.

In this case, as in any case...

a criminal in flight is in a state of
panic and therefore potentially lethal.

Hot police pursuit is not going to help.
He's only gonna increase the danger.

Now, you're supposed to be, and I know
you mean to be, out there saving lives...

not contributing to or causing
these dreadful tragedies.

And we're guilty until
proven innocent, is that it?

No, Joe, not before the law.

You have license to break the
law, and that's what I oppose.

Troops, this is State
Senator Bob Larwin.

Anderson, graphics,
maps, photography.

Welsh, Caltrans technician.

Cheng, chemistry.

And Borlov, interrogations.

We Have ways of
making people talk.

Baker and Poncherello,
comedy and physical evidence.

MAIT headquarters.

Perez, our psychologist,
is out doing interviews.

- Sergeant, telephone.
- Oh, excuse me.

Getraer.

Yeah.

Great.

Yes, that is good news...

and it couldn't have
come at a better time.

We found our siren.

It was a private ambulance running
a burn victim north on Bluebird Drive.

We're doing our very best
to disappoint you, senator.

Joe, please don't imply that I'm against
you because my record proves that I am not.

Okay, we've provided you with all the
reports and photographs that we have.

What about the pickle and the
French fries found in Cahill's car?

The fries were cold and
the pickle was kosher.

Could the girl have been
eating while she was driving?

Senator, Sindy
Cahill is not a girl.

She's a Highway Patrol
officer, for one thing.

For another, that question's not
germane to your case against hot pursuit.

I'll provide the
answer when I get it.

The Ford Motor Company says
the serial number's on the back.

Puts this R in the ornament
letters of a '67 half-ton truck.

And you want the Motor Vehicle
Department to tell you which one.

Hey, they only made 46,000, and
the lab says this one's light blue.

Easy, right?

See, a lot of them that old
are out of commission by now.

I'll have something by 1994.

Look, there was no Ford involved
in the wreckage in Sierra Canyon.

Now, if this one's involved, it
may be a felony hit-and-run.

I mean, 11 people died.

I'll have something by tomorrow.

Thank you.

We'll duplicate the truck
and the CHP cruiser.

Same weight, same kind of
tires, same inflation and mileage.

Well, one chrome-plated
R. What am I bid?

I'll let you wash my motorcycle.

The DMV read out 11 blue '67 half-tons,
all within a 10 mile radius of here.

Two closer than two miles.

Now, I'm going to the nearest one now, you
guys join me as soon as you're finished.

This might break
it up, you know?

Run your test
and let's get on it.

Well, we copy the moves
of the vehicles involved...

at 45 miles an hour
because that's the limit here.

Then we compare the photographs
and the measurements of the skids...

and analyze the rubber residue.

Then we can pin down the different
speeds when the accident happened.

Okay, let's get out of the way.

We got this part
of it figured right.

He crossed in front of her,
she gunned it to try to miss him.

If he was trying to miss
her, he would've curved.

He would've have cut it hard
like Ponch did and like Sindy did.

Well, I thought you guys
were testing for speed?

That too, senator, but tire
tracks tell us a lot of things.

But they don't
tell you everything.

They don't tell you why she was
driving on the wrong side of the road.

- Yes?
- Good afternoon, ma'am.

Joe Getraer, Highway Patrol.

Is Kenneth Thomas here?

No, not anymore.

He was before we
moved in. He's gone.

He may be able to help us...

with some information
about a traffic accident.

L.A. 15, S4 in pursuit
of blue '67 Ford half-ton.

76513-David.

7 Adam? Mary 3? Mary 4?

S4 in pursuit of that half-ton.

I don't know what he's up to...

but he's headed
your way on Bluebird.

Senator, what do you think?

Should our guys slow down?

Turn around. Put your
hands on your head. Move.

I never should
have run, you know?

I knew you guys were
gonna catch me and I'm sorry.

Sorry we caught you?

"Sorry" doesn't mean
much to a corpse, you know?

Hey, listen, I
didn't hurt anybody.

It's mostly the parking tickets. My
wife kept warning me, you know?

Parking tickets, huh? - Yeah.

Yeah, there are warrants
out on me, man, you know?

I mean, we got a baby
now and I don't have a dime.

I lose my license, I lose my job, I
lose my house, I lose everything.

That's what I'm saying.
It's traffic tickets, right?

Huh?

The letter fell off...

I mean, these
letters fall off, okay?

I mean, it's an
old truck, right?

- You did know about the accident?
- No. Well, I mean, yeah.

I read about it in
the newspapers.

Only we can't afford to fix
the TV, know what I mean?

How did you happen to stop
at that spot the day before?

Look, I already told
you, the engine quit.

It wasn't that day, it was the
day before that, in the morning...

and I was on my way to the job.

Well, that's it.

In other words, you mean to
prevent me from seeing her?

I advise you against
it, as I did the sergeant.

- But what about Poncherello and Baker?
- They're not authority figures, you are.

She's weak, and I don't want
that kind of pressure on her now.

Minute I knew where
I was, I figured it out.

I said, "Sindy, you've
had an accident."

You wanna tell me about it?

The doctor said you should try to
remember. Remember what you did that day.

Now, you didn't log out
for lunch. Did you eat?

Well, yeah, a burger,
fries and a pickle.

This little drive-through
place where I always go.

I didn't leave the
car, so I didn't log out.

19th and Highland, right?

Then you responded to an 11-83
and you took your burger with you.

No, I ate it. Why?

Well, because we found
fries and a pickle in the car.

Excuse me, half a pickle.

My pickle? I never
even ate my pickle.

Oh, okay, all right. We'll
buy you a new one, all right?

Will you guys tell me one thing?

- Was it bad and was I to blame?
- Uh...

Sindy, that's two things.

Bad? Yes, bad
enough to put you here.

Blame...?

We're not looking for blame,
we're looking for cause.

Right.

Well, didn't you guys
have any witnesses?

None that are any help.

- I'm in trouble, aren't I?
- Hey, hey, hey, come on, now.

If you were in trouble, don't
you think we'd tell you so?

The minute we find out
something, we'll let you know.

And the minute you
remember, you let us know, huh?

Okay, so start trying to
think of something pleasant...

like when I gave her
mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

Remember?

Did you really?

- Yes, you want me to show you how?
- No, wait till I remember the first time.

See whether or not I liked it.

All right. Now, don't
worry about anything.

Everything is cool.
You want anything?

Just my pickle.

She's gonna be okay. She
doesn't remember, but that's normal.

Oh, she just doesn't remember?

Bob, if there was
a conspiracy here...

I wouldn't have called you
to tell you she was conscious.

Okay, here's what were sure of:

Cahill and the
truck collided at A.

She spun counterclockwise...

gunned across the road
and over the side at B.

The truck locked its brakes...

and just after the impact at A, it
overcorrected again to the left...

and ended up here at C.

Car Number 4 skidded under
the truck and ended up here.

Car Number 2 followed
Car 3, hit it and the truck at D.

Car Number 5 moving eastbound...

Car Number 1 moving westbound...

both tried to pass behind
the truck and hit head-on at E.

- Don't we have a witness to that?
- No, he didn't see it happen.

This is a man at the checkpoint
for the construction site...

just east of the
curve and above it.

Several people up
there heard the crash...

and he stepped out of his van just
in time to see Cars 1 and 5 explode.

- Then he didn't see what Cahill did?
- No, she was off the road by then.

And incidentally, he did not
see a blue half-ton pickup truck.

That's a false trail.

The truck was there, but
it was the morning before.

We checked it out.

Gentlemen, let me say something.

I know how you interpret
the skid marks at Point A.

However, it seems
more logical to me...

that Cahill realized she
was on the wrong side.

And while trying to get
back to where she belonged...

she was hit by the truck.

And a loaded truck couldn't
maneuver fast enough to avoid her.

That's not necessarily the case.

If they were converging
on the same spot...

There's one chance of proving how it
happened and maybe finding out why.

What's that?

Go up there and reenact it.

Are you kidding? You know
how much that would cost?

Take it out of my salary.

I'll see if I can
get it approved.

Okay, we're gonna run this
thing first at 15 miles an hour.

I'll stop you if I see
anything wrong.

But don't wait for me if you see
anything wrong. You got that?

- Yeah.
- Okay, let's hit it.

Hi.

Jon, we both stay on the
wrong side this time, right?

Right, Ponch.

Watch the passing maneuver.
Don't take any chances.

Everybody okay?

Piece of cake.

Doesn't Car 5 do anything?

Later, Grossman.

What have you proved, Joe?

No matter who was
on the wrong side first...

Cahill and the truck would've
passed each other on their right...

if they had just stayed there.

Okay, anybody see anything that might've
caused Ponch or me to go across the line?

Nope. OFFICER: Not a thing.

You wanna try my
end of it at speed?

- Sure.
- All right.

Hold your speed at 40.

I'll be beside you when
the truck comes around.

Okay.

Sarge, we're gonna run what
we think Sindy did at-speed.

Okay, don't cut it too close.

You need Car 5 now?

No, Grossie, just sit tight.

- You must have played a lot of chicken.
- I'll never do it again with a loaded truck.

- Hey, you missed me, man.
- No, no, no, you missed me.

Sarge, I don't know how the truck
got on the other side of the line.

But I'll tell you, believe it or not,
Sindy did one heck of a piece of driving.

Yeah, she went off the road
on purpose to get out of the way.

All right, that's enough.

I don't want to see any
more. I'll accept the argument.

Well, wait a minute, I don't.

Bill, you just saw...

What I saw just scared
the whey out of me...

but you're assuming that the
truck went on the wrong side first.

Now, you haven't proven anything,
and you haven't shown why.

Joe, if you want to
do any more of this...

I'll ask you to take me down.

Hey. Hey, sarge...

was something being delivered
up there at the time of the accident?

Hold on, Ponch.

How about it?

Yeah, that's why I
didn't see the accident.

See, I'd just checked in some...
Let's see, it was roofing paper and...

Just a second.

Uh...

Yeah, here it is.

Ponch, they delivered
some roofing paper...

and some fireplace
mirrors, a truckload of them.

Get one up there by 5:00.

Go on up.

Okay, the truck-clock
stopped at 5:17.

And that means we have to hit
that curve at exactly 5:17, okay?

Excuse me.

- Yeah, what I'm trying...
- Excuse me.

- I don't think we need Car 5, all right?
- I'm learning to live with that.

Sunset today is six minutes earlier
than it was the day of the accident.

I know that. When I...

That's right. Ponch. Hey,
sarge, sunset is gonna be at 5:11.

We gotta hit the curve at 5:11.
Everybody, mount up. Come on.

Okay, all drivers go.

Go.

Can't see...

Well?

Now I believe.

Car 5.

10-4, sarge. Coming right up.

I have some passengers
for you to take back into town.

Hello, gentlemen.

I wanted to meet her before
leaving town. I wanted to assure her...

that there was no shadow of a doubt
about what she did and how she did it.

But he still
opposes hot pursuit.

Well...

Oh, well, so do we, senator.
It kills and disables a lot of us.

You get the speeders and reckless
drivers and criminals to cooperate...

and I promise you
we'll slow down.

I'll try my best.

Okay, now, did you
remember everything?

Hey, hey, hey. Relax, will you?

Yeah, okay, I got the tape.

All right, we got the tape.

- How about the card?
- Here's the card.

Here's the machine.

And now you just try and relax,
partner, because you can trust me.

- We found it, the Goldbrick Ward.
- What do we say, Highway Patrol person?

Hi, you guys. They
told me what you did.

That was really above and
beyond the call, you know?

Like we're gonna quit the Highway
Patrol and start a new thrill show.

Well, I thank you guys.

Maybe someday I'll
remember what for.

What's that?

A little surprise from all
the guys. Music for my lady.

Everybody chipped in.

And here's the card.

And here's your
favorite jazz group.

"B-Flat Junior"? That's great.

And all of you guys signed the card.
- Mm-hm.

That's terrific. Thanks.

Here, put it in.

- Okay.
- Here, like that.

Yeah. Go ahead, turn it on.

What's the matter with it?

Oh.

I forgot the batteries.

I'll be right back, okay?