On a fateful night in June 1994, a young limo driver named Allan Park found himself at the center of one of the most infamous criminal cases in American history. Little did he know that his routine airport run would become a crucial piece of evidence in the O.J. Simpson murder trial. This is the story of how Allan Park almost missed driving O.J. Simpson on the night that changed everything.
A Novice Driver’s Big Break
From Car Wash to Celebrity Chauffeur
Allan Park was just three months into his new job as a limo driver when he got the assignment of a lifetime. He hadn’t been in the business long, having caught the eye of Dale St. John, the owner of the limo company, while washing a car outside his home.
Despite his short tenure, Park had already driven some impressive clients:
- Casey Kasem
- Gene Wilder
- Faye Dunaway
- Andrew Lloyd Webber
But O.J. Simpson was different. As a big sports fan and USC supporter, Park was actually excited about this particular job.
A Last-Minute Switch
The O.J. Simpson pickup wasn’t originally supposed to be Park’s job. Dale St. John, the company owner, usually drove Simpson himself. But due to Little League coaching commitments, St. John had to hand off the assignment to Park just a few days before.
The Night That Changed Everything
A Series of Odd Events
Park arrived at Simpson’s Rockingham estate for what should have been a straightforward airport run. But from the moment he pulled up, things started to feel off:
- No one answered the intercom when Park buzzed.
- Park couldn’t see any lights on in the house.
- He made multiple phone calls trying to reach Simpson or his boss.
- Park was close to giving up and leaving when he finally saw movement at the house.
The Mysterious Bag
When Simpson finally emerged from the house, he was carrying a small black or brown bag. This seemingly insignificant detail would later become a point of intense scrutiny in the murder investigation.
A Sweaty Passenger
Once in the limo, Simpson’s behavior struck Park as unusual:
- He complained about being hot and sweaty, despite the cool “June gloom” weather.
- Simpson kept rummaging through his bags, muttering that he had forgotten something.
- He seemed more anxious than usual about getting to the airport quickly.
The Aftermath: From Limo Driver to Key Witness
A Rude Awakening
The morning after the airport run, Park woke up to his mother screaming about the news of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman’s murders. In that moment, Park realized his routine job had thrust him into the middle of a horrific crime story.
The Defense Comes Calling
Surprisingly, the first people to contact Park weren’t the police or prosecutors. It was O.J. Simpson’s defense team. Just two days after the murders, attorneys Robert Shapiro and Skip Taft called Park to ask questions about the night of June 12th.
Escaping to Catalina
As media attention intensified, Park made a quick decision to escape to Catalina Island, where his family had business connections. He described the scene at his house:
“I turn the corner and there’s about 50 news vans up and down the street… I park on the street behind our house, jump the walls and go into the house.”
Catalina offered a temporary refuge from the growing media frenzy, but it couldn’t shield Park from the reality of his situation for long.
From Obscurity to the Witness Stand
Preparing for Testimony
As the trial approached, Park found it nearly impossible to avoid news coverage of the case:
“I couldn’t even watch ESPN without it on there. I couldn’t watch, I mean, any network or any TV it was on. Any newspaper you picked up, any magazine you picked up, it was just impossible to get away.”
A Nerve-Wracking Day in Court
When Park finally took the stand, he was understandably nervous. He described the experience:
“You’re going on TV in front of the world, you’re thrown into this. And Marcia [Clark] started, went through the testimony. I mean, everything was smooth, fine.”
However, the cross-examination by defense attorney Robert Shapiro proved more challenging. Park recalled that Shapiro seemed intent on tripping him up, but his efforts were largely thwarted by objections from prosecutor Marcia Clark.
Life After the Trial: Unwanted Fame and Career Change
An Unexpected Celebrity
In the aftermath of the trial, Park found himself in an uncomfortable spotlight:
“It’s weird because people are asking for autographs and, you know, want to hear your story, buy you a drink. I mean, so it changed in knowing that the media was hounding you every day.”
He received offers from major talk shows and media outlets, including:
- Oprah
- Geraldo Rivera
- Larry King Live
- Various magazines and tabloids
Moving On
Despite the potential for fame and financial gain, Park chose to step away from the limelight. He left his job as a limo driver and sought a quieter life away from the constant reminders of that fateful night.
The Lasting Impact of One Fateful Night
Allan Park’s story is a reminder of how quickly and unexpectedly life can change. A routine airport pickup turned into a key piece of evidence in one of the most high-profile murder cases in American history. Park’s precise timeline and consistent testimony made him a crucial witness for the prosecution, even as it forever altered the course of his own life.
Thirty years later, the events of that June night continue to fascinate the public and haunt those involved. For Allan Park, it remains a surreal chapter in his life—one that began with a simple limo ride and ended up at the center of the trial of the century.
