ATHENS, Alabama -- The pursuit by police of an 18-wheeler on Interstate 65 today has taken a strange twist.

A reporter for the Athens News-Courier talked with the driver of the truck after he was stopped near the Alabama-Tennessee state line.

The explanation from the driver, who was not identified by name by police, was a bit extraordinary.

From a story posted on the newspaper's website:

The driver, identified as Anton Barnivok by The Times news partner WHNT News 19, is described in the story as being a Ukrainian man living in Chicago.

The truck apparently drove through spikes placed on the road by police and continued despite having 18 flat tires.

The Athens paper also reported the truck was accompanied by 10 state trooper vehicles and two helicopters. Traffic on the interstate is also blocked.

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