Firemen Stalking An Attempted Rewind

Lonely woman says she's a 'gawker' — addicted to chasing accident scenes By Drew Harwell, Times Staff Writer In Print: Sunday, August 2, 2009

Sallie Gibson and her chihuahua, Little Bear, frequent accident scenes, like this car crash at East Bay Drive in Largo in June. “I don’t know why it’s so interesting to me,” she says.

[DREW HARWELL | Times]

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A 19-year-old lay on a stretcher in the weeds of a shut-down gas station, his blood dotting the curb. His orange Isuzu Amigo, freshly crumpled on East Bay Drive, sat nearby. Firefighters knelt at the teen's side, checking his pulse. His friends shaded their eyes and shared hushed worries. Passing drivers slowed to watch, then sped away. Paramedics would come soon to take the teen away, but someone had beaten them to the scene. She wore gray sweatpants, a saggy T-shirt and a locket of her late dog's ashes. Her name is Sallie Gibson. Sallie approached with hunched, unsteady steps. Her chihuahua, Little Bear, panted quietly in her arms. Sallie ground her teeth. She stared. What did it feel like, she wondered, to crash? Did the teen feel shocked? Was he scared? How do people in car crashes, with all that pain, lie so still?

To herself, she said a prayer. The teen's friends approached Sallie, who stood quietly, lost in thought. "Did you see it?" they asked. Did you see the accident? "No," she said, still staring. "I just saw it on the computer." Sallie bought her first computer, a black Compaq laptop, six months ago. It helps her chase tragedy. Using Web sites devoted to Pinellas County's emergency communications, Sallie, 58, can know in an instant where local police cars, ambulances and fire engines have been dispatched. Locals visit the sites to avoid traffic; journalists, to break news. Sallie visits to await the worst. "Five or six hours a day, every day," she said, stooped over a puppy mouse pad in her cramped Largo home. "I watch while I'm eating dinner, before I go to bed, in the afternoon, between my naps. "I'll go every day if there's something out there to go to. Sometimes there will be three accidents, and you don't know which one to go to. There's no set schedule for these kinds of things." The calls with the most responding vehicles are the biggest and best, she said, though she has some preferences. She rarely goes to medical calls. They're too often routine, like 911 calls for hangovers. And she ignores fires. Watching a house burn can be exciting, she admits, but the smoke aggravates her emphysema. So she waits for the road accidents — the head-on collisions, the multi-car crashes, the ejections. On those calls she can see the people, the patrol officers, the mangled wreckage. On some, she can hear the screams. "It's kind of sick, isn't it? I don't know why it's so interesting to me. I really don't know," Sallie said, her thick glasses glued to the screen. "I don't like to see blood and guts. I'm just curious." But after six months of scanner talk and years of chasing disaster, what's left to pique her curiosity? The ambulances always look the same. Death, for Sallie, is nothing new. So what does she see out there? "A lot of people gawk," she said. "I'm just a gawker." ••• Three years ago, when Sallie would leave her graveyard-shift job of mopping floors and cleaning broilers at Burger King, she would look for flashing strobes in the dawning light. "I would follow ambulances as far as I could, until I lost them," she said. "I had to stop at lights. They didn't."

She looked forward to the chases. They gave an invigorating end to her lonely overnight shifts. Then she had a heart attack, and the ambulance came for her. To this day, when she gawks, she wonders — were these the paramedics who came for me? Will they have to come again? She worries about herself. A pack-and-a-half of cigarettes every day for 38 years left her with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, an incurable lung condition that she expects will worsen, killing her. She loses her breath easily. She runs only in dreams. And then there are the crippling panic attacks that stop her, make her shake and keep her from leaving the house. "I wouldn't wish them on my worst enemy," she said. "You feel like you're going to die." Sallie turned to drinking to ease her nerves, a resort made easier by her alcoholic ex-husband. They fermented their own wine in 5-gallon tubs and whisked through six cases of Pabst Blue Ribbon in a weekend. Drunken numbness, she said, made trips to the grocery store bearable. Sallie drank for the last time more than a decade ago, when her close friend entered her last months of terminal cancer. As her caretaker, Sallie knew she needed to stay sober. The panic attacks continued, but she has found some respite. Even the exhausted can gawk. "This stuff I can do, for entertainment," she said recently at the scene of a Clearwater stabbing. "I guess I get bored." ••• Years ago, Sallie watched her adoptive parents die. She has no siblings and no children. She lives alone. She cares for five animals. Tater and Sweetpea swim in turtle tubs in the kitchen. Pumpkin and Peanut's birdcages sit near the urn of her shepherd mutt, Java. Little Bear mostly stays at Sallie's feet, licking through a hole in her shoe. When she's awake, her home is rarely quiet. Scanner chatter mixes with The Young and the Restless, The Bold and the Beautiful and the Investigation Discovery channel. She rarely listens to music, she said, because it brings back bad memories. She laughs at inside jokes between dispatchers and perks up when officers tail a suspect. "I get so excited," she said. "I feel like I'm chasing there with them." Sallie's purple PT Cruiser covers an area from Park Boulevard to Gulf-to-Bay Boulevard. When she arrives at the scenes, parking near the police cars and the TV vans, she doesn't intrude. If an officer asks her to stand back 5 feet, she'll walk 10. She doesn't bring a camera, just watches. Sometimes, feeling powerless or sad, she tells people sorry. "Some of this s--- just makes you wonder why," she said. "Life can suck sometimes."

She'll stay at a scene until the excitement is gone, or until the police move on, or until the bodies are taken away. New tragedies happen every day. So she goes home to wait. But memories of some scenes don't fade so easily. ••• April 10, about 11 p.m. Sallie's laptop is open. She's waiting. Suddenly, a call. "On the scanner I heard that a car burst into flames when it hit a tree. They were talking about bodies lying in the road," she said. "When I heard that I knew it was gory. So that's when I grabbed my dog and said, 'Let's go.' " Sallie drove 5 miles looking for the police lights. She parked at a scene more grisly than one paramedic had seen in decades. A Lexus carrying five high school boys crashed, spun into a tree and trapped its driver in burning wreckage. Passengers scattered across the roadway. Officers warned Sallie about the bodies. She ignored them. If she couldn't handle it, she thought, she could walk away. The onlookers who got there first may have thought the same thing. "All the kids, all the friends found out first. It was like one big class reunion," she said. "These kids were coming in groups, crying." Hundreds stood next to Sallie and Little Bear, staring at the covered bodies. Children collapsed from the shock. Was this their first time looking at death? Sallie felt chills but kept quiet. She stared. "Please, God, help them," she prayed, as she does at each scene. "Don't let them die. Help them. Take the pain away." Drew Harwell can be reached at [email protected] or (727) 445-4170.

[Last modified: Jul 31, 2009 06:46 PM]

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Your comment has been submitted to our editors. Thoughtful contributions will be displayed online within 24 hours. Click here to submit another comment New est First Follow comments with RSS48 comments 1. Nancy from Pinellas Aug 3rd, 2009 11:41 AM Sallie needs to mind her own business and give the unfortunate victims their privacy!I'm sure she's also putting other people at risk as she's racing in her car so she can gawk. 2. Right to Privacy from Pinellas Aug 3rd, 2009 10:39 AM What about right to privacy? The victims are placed in very tragic situations at times, along with family jetting to the scene.Having an outsider stand there because she finds it interesting is out of line. Salli-Please stop your intrusive behavior. 3. Neil from Safety Harbor Aug 3rd, 2009 10:05 AM Sallie, I wasn't that interested in this until I saw that you were upset that this was written "without my permission." What did you think was going to happen? You talk to reporters you have to expect they'll tell the story how they see it. 4. Hmmm from St Pete Aug 3rd, 2009 8:14 AM Why are these woman's actions "newsworthy"? At first it sounds morbid but if you read further, she actually prays for those injured. Prayer for strangers that may have no one else to pray for them - that is what was missed in the commentary. 5. illwavefromthegurney from P.H. Aug 3rd, 2009 6:32 AM Maybe her dog can go lick the victims wounds when its done licking her toes thru the holes in her shoes!!! Gross!!! LMAO!!! 6. Sallie The Gawker from Largo Aug 3rd, 2009 5:34 AM I'm really sorry this article was written without my permission because it has really upset so many of you people. I am not happy about the way it is worded. It sounds really morbid. Please accept my appology for the staff writer. Shame on him. 7. Ed from St. Petersburg Aug 3rd, 2009 3:26 AM She should become an accident/injury lawyer. 8. willie from penniless park, fl Aug 3rd, 2009 2:15 AM

more news from the weird about a local sick freak 9. Susan from Tampa Aug 2nd, 2009 8:18 PM There are far better ways to spend your idle time. If you are well enough to drive, sit and stand, you can volunteer at a church folding newsletters, at a food shelter sorting supplies, or at a school. You should be ashamed of such behavior. 10. James from Tampa Aug 2nd, 2009 6:07 PM All the news that's fitted to print. What a waste of time and effort. The Times has way to much time on its hands. 11. Sallie The Gawker from Largo Aug 2nd, 2009 4:38 PM I am the so called psycopath you have voiced your opinion about. Thank you for your comments. I have worked hard all my life intil I became disabled, so I have paid my dues. I'm sorry some of you feel the way you do because I am a very caring person. 12. geribald from the hood Aug 2nd, 2009 12:39 PM check out pinellasfire on youtube. he's filming BODIES in the vans and running around cursing at people. someone should have HIM committed. He's pointing right in the deathboxes. CHASING FIRETRUCKS. Nice change from them chasing us. LOL 13. penny pitstop from your block Aug 2nd, 2009 9:08 AM stop threatening people through your newspaper. The firemen KNOW they stalk people, it's ALL OVER the internet. They're trying to turn it around. Carneys. 14. Geri from Clearwater Aug 2nd, 2009 8:43 AM Guess Sallie doesn't have to get up and go to work anymore. She is probably on Soc Security disability. In other words, we the taxpayer, are paying for her to go around gawking between her naps and soap operas. Sick. 15. Fred from Tampa Aug 2nd, 2009 6:58 AM Thanks for the reminder of what a twisted,perverted world we live in. Careful, Sallie-karma's a funny thing. 16. Eric from Valrico Aug 1st, 2009 10:35 PM Also, if this nut were to go to Clearwater, SHE WOULDN'T SEE THE AMERICAN FLAG!!! THANKS CLEARWATER CITY COUNCIL!!!! WITH ALL THOSE PARKING TICKETS YOU CAN'T BUY A FLAG FROM HOME DEPOT!!! BOO THIS MAN! BOO!!!! 17. Eric from Valrico Aug 1st, 2009 10:33 PM Voyeurism isn't just about sex. This lady likes watching people suffer; way to encourage complete psycopathy by writing an article about her. Now she has something to hang on her wall next to the headlight from the drunk crosstown girl's car. 18. Jeff from St. Pete Aug 1st, 2009 9:11 PM On the one hand this is pretty creepy...on the other she is obviously lonely. Nevertheless she shouldnt be chasing ambulances and cops....they have enough to deal with at those scenes. 19. Ashlee from Zhills

Aug 1st, 2009 8:57 PM this lady is sick 20. KAtie from Dunedin Aug 1st, 2009 8:30 PM Let's hope she is saying a prayer for those injured/deceased. 21. Santa from North Pole Aug 1st, 2009 8:24 PM I feel the same way as I watch the President and Congress turn this country into a train wreck. 22. Betty from CLW Aug 1st, 2009 7:08 PM This is one sick pathetic person. and to subject her poor dog to the tragedies of others. please, please get help. I think the police/fire rescue should make her leave when they see her. and why are we subjected to her illness, as that's what it is. 23. Tara from St. Petersburg Aug 1st, 2009 6:59 PM I'm disappointed to see such a story covered. She has no real compassion. There are much better things she could do with her time. Why doesn't she try volunteering @ a trauma center, it would have the same things) but at least she'd be a help. 24. Rose from Largo Aug 1st, 2009 6:29 PM Ever drive by an accident and look? What about all the evening news stories and interviews of the neighbors discussing the chaos? Maybe it's not nice to admit the truth just pretend you don't look....much. 25. Katarina from Tampa Bay area Aug 1st, 2009 5:58 PM I really don't want to go to an accident site, but would love to hear the calls going out. Is there a way to access (like a police scanner does) online the police/ambulance calls ? If so whats the link ?? anyone ???? 26. Beerbelly from St Pete Aug 1st, 2009 4:16 PM If she had wings she could circle like a buzzard. 27. Dee from St. Pete Aug 1st, 2009 4:09 PM This woman needs counseling 28. Marcy from Clearwater Aug 1st, 2009 4:07 PM I thought she looks familiar. I have seen her at a bunch of accidents all hours. Of course I just happened by myself. PS the head-ons are the best for brain splatter. 29. Jen from Michigan Aug 1st, 2009 2:39 PM Lady: Get some help. An accident is not a form of "entertainment". You are not wanted at the scene by any of the emergency responders, nor the people in the accident, nor their families. Get some help. 30. Carl from Safety Harbor Aug 1st, 2009 2:33 PM

Ghoulish? Yeah. But what's the purpose of posting the accidents in the first place? Helping people to avoid accidents is a weak answer. They avoid a few minutes delay, not hours. Stop posting accidents online. We know the PD is doing their job. 31. Kaela from Clearwater Aug 1st, 2009 1:53 PM I have brothers who have hand held scanners and go to the scene of fires. It is no different than people slowing down when they see an accident on the freeway. Cut the woman some slack. 32. Leigh from Tampa Aug 1st, 2009 1:12 PM St. Pete Times has done it again: stooping to new lows in journalism to fill the space. Journalists with integrity would never cover this warped story as though it were acceptable. Innocent strangers' lives and suffering are none of her business. 33. penelope pi from your block Aug 1st, 2009 12:59 PM WHY is this any different than watching 'faces of death' or 'volunteering' to work in an emergency room? Anyway this story is about something different than this woman. Why is it WRONG just because she's a stranger? Why is it okay for others not her 34. angelique from tampa Aug 1st, 2009 12:51 PM more like the firetrucks and ambulances are gawkers. THEY follow people around. It IS sick. It's STALKING. 35. excalibur from St. Petersburg Aug 1st, 2009 12:42 PM I don't think this is some self-serving sociopathology, some people need to have suffering people to feel sorry for. It can be therapuetic to forget your OWN problems and feel instead for others. I understand this impulse. 36. William from Largo Aug 1st, 2009 12:29 PM Sorry Times, no news value here -- why don't you write a story about every emotionally sick person in the Bay market? That'll keep ya busy for a while. 37. Kenneth from St. Petersburg Aug 1st, 2009 11:17 AM That's what we need, lot of folks driving up to accident scenes and blocking EMS. Absolutely disgusting. 38. Deb from St. Pete Aug 1st, 2009 11:04 AM The interesting part is that Sallie prays. From a woman who obviously has enough of her own pain, maybe she understands something others cannot. Maybe, hopefully, those prayers do some good. Who's to say? 39. Peter from West St. Pete Aug 1st, 2009 10:54 AM Doesn't sound any different than an average night of TV entertainment. Lets' face it, Americans are sociopaths when it comes to the suffering of others.We care only for ourselves.... 40. RLH from Clearwater Aug 1st, 2009 10:50 AM Entertainment? Oh my goodness. I have 2 words for this woman "Seek Therapy". 41. Melinda from Largo

Aug 1st, 2009 10:19 AM It's easy to judge and this lady's behavior is sorta creepy...but she isn't hurting anyone. This was an interesting look into someone's life. 42. Joey from LOL Aug 1st, 2009 9:39 AM amazing how the times is being selective and decides not to post comments, which are very similar to the ones already here. go back to the comments for signed in posters. are is that too much freedom of speech for you spt? 43. Lynn from St Pete Aug 1st, 2009 9:33 AM what a waste of reporting time and space in the paper devoted to this person!!!! how awful what she is doing 44. Melissa from Clearwater Aug 1st, 2009 9:22 AM She REALLY needs to find something else to do with her time. That's just too morbid...getting entertainment out of someone else's misfortune. 45. Jackson from Belleair Aug 1st, 2009 7:41 AM Yessiree. This is one sick person. I bet the Emergency Services personnel working these tragedies just love to have good ole Sallie standing around helping to attract a crowd. A crowd that could potentially impede their life saving efforts. 46. Linda from St. Petersburg Aug 1st, 2009 7:13 AM How would you like to know that someone is gawking at you and your little dog bleeding to death, just for their own sick amusement, get a life. 47. Lynn from St Pete Aug 1st, 2009 3:52 AM what a waste of time giving this woman the time of day and space in the paper. geez what a sicko 48. Joey from LOL Jul 31st, 2009 5:10 PM "This stuff I can do, for entertainment," she said recently at the scene of a Clearwater stabbing. "I guess I get bored." This is one sick person. please, get help you pathetic thing.spt-OMG!why would you write this story? you validate her illness.