I-75 Driver Tailgates, Passes Ambulance with Lights, Sirens On

A man driving from Chattanooga to Atlanta on Interstate 75 allegedly tailgated and passed an ambulance transporting a patient with its lights and sirens activated.

A Whitfield County ambulance Monday shortly before midnight was en route to Egleston's pediatric hospital in Atlanta when the crew called authorities to report a vehicle was tailgating it near the Bartow-Gordon county line, according to the Bartow County Sheriff's Office incident report, above.

Having trouble viewing the report on your mobile device? Click here.

As a result, a "be on the lookout" was issued and a Bartow deputy spotted the ambulance in the left lane of Interstate 75 southbound in Cartersville near Highway 20.

A white 2008 Toyota Corolla driven by Stephen Zachery Stiltner, 23, of Bluffton, S.C., was allegedly traveling 95 mph in a 70-mph zone, and had been behind a passenger truck and the ambulance. Both the Corolla and the truck moved into the middle lane as the deputy approached.

Followed by the patrol car, the truck moved into the right lane and significantly decreased its speed, but the Corolla continued to accelerate, according to the deputy. It allegedly then moved into the left lane in front of the ambulance.

Prior to stopping for the deputy, Stiltner allegedly failed to yield to a tractor-trailer as the Corolla moved back into the center lane.

Stiltner told police he had no reason for following the ambulance, and was driving south because his girlfriend had kicked him out. He was cited for speeding, failing to yield to an emergency vehicle and following an emergency vehicle too closely.

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