MAIT Team

MAIT Team
Episode #	215
Air Date	January 13, 1979
Briefing	How the accident happened (drawn on chalkboard)

Title Screen

Plot

Cahill is injured.

Sindy is involved in a major accident and Ponch and Jon respond. Our heroes arrive at the same time as the emergency vehicles. It isn't until later that someone notices Sindy's cruiser. Eleven people died. Luckily Sindy is alive but unconscious. She was the only survivor and witness.

Ponch and Jon become part of the MAIT team to investigate the accident. Several witnesses claim to have heard a siren just before the crash.

The next day, pictures and measurements are taken at the scene of the accident. Everything seems to be pointing to Sindy as the cause. Trouble arises when a Senator joins the investigation. While Ponch and Jon do a (safe) re-creation for the Senator, Getraer is following up clues and ends up chasing a truck which lost a part at the scene of the accident. When Getraer slips and tips over, Ponch and Jon take up the chase. When they catch the guy, Ponch makes the arrest. It turns out he ran because he thought they were getting him for excess parking tickets.

When Sindy regains consciousness, she remembers nothing. Ponch suggests they recreate the accident.

The next day, they have a truck and multiple old cars to play with. On their second run through, they get it almost exact. When Ponch and Jon get blinded by the reflection of the sun, Ponch realizes why the truck drove on the wrong side.They recreate it once again with the reflective sheets on top of the hill which were being delivered at the time of the accident. Jon is blinded and drives on the wrong side. The accident almost happens again.

When Ponch and Jon visit Sindy in the hospital, they bring her an 8-track player. When Ponch realizes he forgot the batteries, he runs out to get some.

Great Quote

"Didn't you guys have any witnesses?"

"None that were any help."

-Sindy (in the hospital) and Jon (referring to the dead accident victims)

Guest Stars

• Eric Braeden as Senator Larwin
• Michael Bell as Margolis
• Carmen Argenziano as Borlov

Also Starring

• Brianne Leary as Sindy
• Brodie Greer as Baricza
• Paul Linke as Grossman
• Lew Saunders as Fritz

Co-starring

• Michael Christian as Ken Thomas
• Dan Ferrone as Anderson
• Robert Lone as Welsh
• Scott Mulhern as Doctor
• Russell Shannon as Citizen #1
• Lorraine Barkley as Citizen #2
• Wonderful Smith as DMV Supervisor
• Peg Stewart as Mrs. Harris
• Lee Terri as Barbara Daniels
• Wade Wallace as Construction Worker
• Ingred Wang as Cheng

Crew

• Produced by: Cy Chermak
• Teleplay by: William D. Gordon & James Doherty and George Zateslo
• Story by: George Zateslo
• Directed by: John Florea
• Executive Consultant: Rick Rosner
• Story Editors: William D. Gordon & James Doherty
• Associate Producers: Wm. L. Young and Paul Rabwin
• Developed for television by: Paul Playdon
• Music by: Alan Silvestri
• Theme by: John Parker
• Music Supervisor: Harry V. Lojewski
• Director of Photography: Robert F. Sparks
• Art Director: Joseph M. Altadonna
• Editors: Dennis Mosher & Michael Renaud
• Unit Production Manager: Wm. L. Young
• Assistant Director: Ron Grow
• 2nd Assistant Directors: Mary Lou Maclaury & Roger Slager
• Script Supervisor: Robert Gary
• Set Decorator: W. Joseph Kroesser
• Production Consultant: Bob Hayden
• Technical Advisor: Dick Barton
• Sound: Robert Sheridan & Hal Watkins, C.A.S.
• Stunt Co-ordinator: Paul Nuckles
• Wardrobe Supervisor: Shelly Levine
• Makeup: John M. Norin
• Casting: Michael O. Hanks
• Locations by: Cinemobile Systems
• With Appreciation to Glen B. Craig, Commissioner California Highway Patrol
• Motorcycles Furnished by: Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A.
• Automobiles furnished by: Ford Motor Company
• Filmed in METROCOLOR / Titles and Opticals MGM
• Rosner Television in association with MGM Television

Fun Facts

• Ponch and Jon are wearing long sleeves during this episode.
• We see Rescue Squad 51 and Engine 51 respond to the accident. These are from the firehouse made famous in the 70s drama, "Emergency!"

Mistakes

The driver is missing before impact.

• The driver of the orange car that hits the trailer is missing before impact.
• After Ponch arrives at the accident scene and drives between the wrecked cars, he gets off his motorcycle, takes off his helmet, and puts it on his motorcycle. Watch his helmet fall off the motorcycle.
• How do they know exactly where the reflective sheets were aimed? Even the slightest deviation at that distance would have made it reflect at something other than Jon's truck.

Buy this episode

• MAIT Team on DVD at Amazon.com
• Watch episode for free on AOL Video

Preceded by: "Repo Man"

MAIT Team 215

Followed by: "Pressure Point"