Whether we did it as children or adults, most of us can admit to making up a story or telling a lie to cover up a mistake we've made. But how far would you go to avoid getting in trouble for driving drunk?
A commercial truck driver is facing criminal charges after attempting to hide the fact that he was driving drunk on the job last week, according to Oregon State Police. The man was in Oregon when he sent a text message to his trucking company last Wednesday, reporting that two men carrying guns had taken him and his load of berries hostage. The man said the thieves had taken his keys and told him to stay where he was until they returned, allegedly to steal the truck and its contents.
Oregon State Police troopers responded to the afternoon report. They spoke to the driver for the Washington-based trucking company, but said he had trouble explaining exactly what was going on. About 20 minutes later, they found the man's 18-wheeler along southbound Interstate 5. The hood was up and the hazard lights were flashing, but there was no sign of the man or the hijackers. Troopers soon found the trucker about a quarter-mile down the road with another man. Police said he had been riding as an unauthorized passenger. According to the troopers, both men were too intoxicated to drive and as a result decided to make up the hostage story.
The 33-year-old trucker was arrested and booked into the Douglas County Jail on suspicion of driving under the influence of intoxicants and initiating a false police report. He was also cited for unlawful possession of an open container. His passenger wasn't arrested or cited.
It's unclear how the hostage story might have helped the truck driver, but intoxication doesn't always lead to the best decisions. The driver will want to make sure he finds a good attorney to represent him in court, but even if he isn't convicted of the charges against him, he risks losing his job over the incident. It may be time for him to consider seeking treatment for alcohol addiction, which could decrease his chances of getting into drinking-related trouble again and help him develop into a more responsible employee.
Source: Bakersfield Now, "Police: Drunk trucker claimed gunmen took him hostage," June 14, 2012
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