Texas Man Gets 8 Years for Forklift Chase

A Fort Worth, Texas, man has been sentenced to eight years in prison following a slow-speed police chase in which he drove a stolen forklift down Interstate 30 while throwing beer bottles at authorities.

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports 47-year-old Timothy Lane Raines was sentenced Tuesday. He had pleaded guilty to theft of $1,500-$20,000, driving while intoxicated, aggravated assault on a public servant and evading arrest.

Court hearings were delayed several times because Raines had been found incompetent to stand trial. He was found competent this year.

During the August 2011 chase that reached speeds of 16 mph, Raines drank beer and made obscene gestures at officers. He almost hit several vehicles, including patrol cars.

Police have said he stole the forklift from a construction site.