Hypothetical: Can I drive over someone if he was trying to attack or grab me from the outside? Would I be criminally responsible?

This isn't a story driving an Uber. In fact, it wasn't even me driving.

It was when I was 16 or something. My mom and I was coming off of a court after a pickup game and were catching our breaths at a picnic table.  It was like 9:00PM, not even that late. Still some leftover sun in the sky.  

This was one of those large parks that were popular for dog walkers and there were like 2~3 baseball fields. We were sitting there facing our car about 30 feet away.  The lot was pretty open, but there was this beat up Honda that was circling the lot.  We knew because we saw it a few times drive by us.  Not close, but close enough for us to know that it was the same car "circling."

It slowly drove by our car.  Then over to another car.   We immediately knew there was something wrong.   We have no idea what these guys were up to, but it couldn't be good.

That's when my mom said, "Pick up your stuff. We should go."  and we …

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This isn't a story driving an Uber. In fact, it wasn't even me driving.

It was when I was 16 or something. My mom and I was coming off of a court after a pickup game and were catching our breaths at a picnic table.  It was like 9:00PM, not even that late. Still some leftover sun in the sky.  

This was one of those large parks that were popular for dog walkers and there were like 2~3 baseball fields. We were sitting there facing our car about 30 feet away.  The lot was pretty open, but there was this beat up Honda that was circling the lot.  We knew because we saw it a few times drive by us.  Not close, but close enough for us to know that it was the same car "circling."

It slowly drove by our car.  Then over to another car.   We immediately knew there was something wrong.   We have no idea what these guys were up to, but it couldn't be good.

That's when my mom said, "Pick up your stuff. We should go."  and we pretty much darted towards the car. The moment we were in the car, my mom told me to buckle up (and this was back when I was little, and we didn't always wear seatbelts).  and as soon as I clicked the belt, she floored it. Directly to the exit of the entrance, ignoring all the lines in the parking lot.

The problem?  You guessed it.  The Honda was blocking us by driving slowly near the entrance.  I got super scared, grabbed my mom and screamed.  She never let up the gas and kept on driving.

The Honda obviously noticed our roaring engine, and quickly rev'd and got out of the way.  We passed by them serious several feet away.  I was too scared to look, and my mom I don't think looked either.  We kept on driving to the police station and reported this and filed a formal report.

The police officer said we did the right thing.  Once calm, my mom was a bit worried that she overreacted and that she endangered ourselves and perhaps another bystander (the Honda), but the officer said it should have been self-defense if we had hit them. 

I am still proud of my mother for realizing the situation and acting upon it to keep me (us) safe.  I will never forget that lesson she taught me that night.   I love you, mom.  So brave.  So smart.

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I see people making fun of the OP, but this is actually a common occurence and a plausible scenario.  The reason?  It's a standard practice to trap someone when robbing someone in a car. 

I experienced this firsthand once.  I was driving around only slightly past midnight. I just dropped off a fare at a 7Eleven.  Pulled out and turned on to a side road.  I knew it wasn't a great neighborhood, so I was ready to get out.  I am a very conscious and careful driver.

I saw this shadow come out from the back of the store, and it was a guy in a hoodie.  Yes, a hoodie.  Typical, isn't it?  This guy approached me at my window, gesturing to roll down the window, saying he had some questions for me.  Looking back, I think he was asking (well, pretend to be asking) for directions.  I knew something wasn't right, so I didn't roll my window down, and I just gestured that I wasn't interested.  I was ready to drive off, even though thi…

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I see people making fun of the OP, but this is actually a common occurence and a plausible scenario.  The reason?  It's a standard practice to trap someone when robbing someone in a car. 

I experienced this firsthand once.  I was driving around only slightly past midnight. I just dropped off a fare at a 7Eleven.  Pulled out and turned on to a side road.  I knew it wasn't a great neighborhood, so I was ready to get out.  I am a very conscious and careful driver.

I saw this shadow come out from the back of the store, and it was a guy in a hoodie.  Yes, a hoodie.  Typical, isn't it?  This guy approached me at my window, gesturing to roll down the window, saying he had some questions for me.  Looking back, I think he was asking (well, pretend to be asking) for directions.  I knew something wasn't right, so I didn't roll my window down, and I just gestured that I wasn't interested.  I was ready to drive off, even though this guy was super close.  I didn't want anything to do with it.

Then just as I started to go, I saw another shadow.  It was another guy, his friend, who was standing right in front of my car.  He didn't move at all, just stood tall, and it sent chills down my spine, as he looked like he towered over me.  I think the effect was that I could see the lower part of his body with my headlights, but the top part of him was just a silhoutte, a shadow.

That's when I noticed I was F**KED.  I was stuck there, and I could NOT drive away.  I cut my wheel, but the guy basically sat on my hood.  Then the guy at my window started to tap on my window. I looked briefly at the guy, but I was too scared to even really engage with him. 

That's when my instinct took over.  I just floored it.  My tires spun and made a screeching sound.  I did even know my Toyota Corolla could even spin its wheels, but it did.  The guy by the window yelled something at the shadow, the guy on the top of my hood rolled off to my left.  I could hear both of them yelling.  Most likely chasing me and my car.  My mind raced.  I wasn't sure if I should go to the front side of the 7Eleven or just keep on driving.  I didn't even know if the guys had a car or not.  Sped through 5 intersections before I could even look back to see if they were chasing me.

I always had my driver friends tell me to be aware of where the police stations were. They say if you are being chased or end up carrying a criminal, you can go directly to the stations.  Of course, that night, I wasn't familiar with that neighborhood, so I had no idea.  Completely useless advice.   I called 911 and reported the situation, but after 5 minute of explaining the situation, I realized no one is chasing me, and that they won't even be able to do anything with it, so I just hang up and went on my way.  

I will admit; that was one night I seriously considered quitting being a taxi driver.  More so than the night I cleaned a vomit and another induced vomit on the same ride. (That's a story for another time.)

In any case, I have no idea if I am answering the question, but it's self defense, and it should not be illegal!

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