Maple Grove man honored for stopping runaway pickup truck

The Osseo Police Department is honoring citizens for jumping into action during emergencies. In one case last April, a Maple Grove man helped stop the driver of a pickup truck who was having a diabetic reaction, and could not stop on his own.
Police found the driver weaving back and forth along 93rd Avenue in Osseo. But even with lights and siren blasting behind him, he wouldn't pull over. Police suspected something was wrong right away.
Police Chief Shane Mikkelson says even at slow speed it was dangerous.
"As they got across Highway169 they went into oncoming traffic," Mikkelson said. "At that time cars were getting pushed off the road into the ditch because they could see the squad behind with their lights and sirens and could also observe the vehicle coming at them the wrong way."
Police dashcam video shows the pickup truck crossing over into oncoming traffic. Several cars were forced into the ditch to avoid a head-on collision.
It also shows another truck driven by Rick Pocklington. He had been watching what was happening and sped up to get in front to create a roadblock. It worked. The out of control pick up rear-ended Pocklington and finally stopped.
Chief Mikkelson says it could have been a lot worse.
"He did it out of public safety in mind. In speaking to him about it he laughed and said 'I just wanted this to end. I could see this car [collide] head on with these other people in the other lane.' He was scared for everyone's safety so he put his own in danger, Mikkelson said."
Its not a move police would recommend. But they say Rick Pocklington, a retired firefighter, may have saved someone's life that day.
In all, the Osseo City Council honored seven citizens and two police officers for bravery in three lifesaving events.
Mike Johnson, reporting
Channel 12 is on Comcast cable in the northwest suburbs of Minneapolis and includes the cities Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Crystal, Golden Valley, Maple Grove, New Hope, Osseo, Plymouth and Robbinsdale.