Tow Truck Driver in the Right Place at the Right Time

By Rusty Surette, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- A tow truck driver's story of a wild ride was no April Fool's Day prank.

On Thursday afternoon, Matt McBride said he was on his way to assist a motorist when he suddenly found himself in the middle of a high-speed chase along I-44 in Oklahoma City. McBride, a driver for Express Towing in Moore, said he knew he had to do something.

"I was like well, you're going to get stopped. Somehow you're going to get stopped bud," McBride said.

McBride used his tow truck to help block the truck eluding troopers and police.

"He never hit my truck, and he ended up stopping," McBride said.

The driver of the speeding truck, Joshua Graham, was first spotted by police speeding through school zones in Blanchard and refused to stop. The chase went from Blanchard to Newcastle and ended in Oklahoma City.

"I really want to thank that tow truck driver," said Blanchard Police Chief Tom Linn. "He really helped us."

Back at the office, McBride's boss wasn't buying the story.

"We didn't believe him," said Express Towing Manager Russell Anderson. "It's April Fools Day and I said there's no way."

Anderson said his drivers had been pranking him all day and refused to be the butt of another joke, but Anderson finally believed him after hearing reports of the chase on the radio.

"I'm very proud of him," Anderson said.

McBride said in his line of work he sees what happens when police pursuits end tragically. It's why he did what he did, and he said he would do it all over again.

The suspect, Joshua Graham, is facing a long list of charges including theft, speeding, eluding police and reckless driving. Police said after they took him into custody he was taken to a hospital to be checked out. Chief Linn said during the chase he likely took prescription medicines that belonged to the owner of the truck he allegedly stole.