A man who tried to help the victims of a deadly car accident found himself without a vehicle after police towed his car following the crash.
The Star-Telegram reports Baltimore native Benjamin Davis saw a speeding car hit a tree in Southeast Washington, D.C., on Sunday. Davis said the severity of the crash was evident, and he felt compelled to stop and do what he could for the vehicle's occupants.
"The guy is hanging out of the passenger side door," Davis told WJLA. "Unfortunately, his friend was crushed."
The gentleman who Davis described as being "crushed" was the car's driver, 21-year-old Kyree Lloyd. He was killed on the scene, but it was clear the passenger was still alive. Davis pulled over and got him out of the wreck before contacting the authorities.
“I don’t know those gentlemen,” Davis told Fox 5. "I don’t know anyone – I just saw an accident happen. I just wanted to help someone, and that’s what I thought I did. And I was treated like a suspect.”
The good Samaritan's trouble came after he told police what he'd witnessed. They thanked him for his testimony, and he got back in his car, wanting to make sure he wasn't late for work. After driving a block, however, Davis was stopped by another D.C. police officer. He was instructed to get out of his vehicle, and his car was towed.
Davis said he was told his car was seized because "you were a witness to a vehicle where someone died in an accident."
“l was like, ‘What is going on here? What is this really about?’ They said, ‘You don’t want to cooperate, your car will get towed,’” Davis said. “My vehicle was stolen. I was not written a citation or ticket or anything for any infraction, so there is no probable cause to even pull my vehicle over."
Reason reached out to the police department and was told by a spokesperson: “Davis' car was towed because he did not have a valid driver's license.”
Davis maintains he has a valid license and insurance. WJLA, however, found his Maryland license is suspended. He's yet to get his car back and claims police won't tell him where it is.
"I got treated like a suspect, and my car was stolen by police in D.C.," Davis said. "And I don't know where my vehicle is."
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