Police in Ashtabula County, Ohio, made an unusual traffic stop on May 14 after responding to an out-of-control horse and buggy.
According to the Ashtabula County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to calls of a wrong-way driver on U.S. 322 and were surprised to find that the vehicle was a horse-drawn covered buggy.
After attempting and failing to signal the driver with his headlights, the buggy led the deputy on a slow-speed chase toward Staley and Hague Road before the deputy had enough and pulled in front of the buggy.
Upon exiting the vehicle, the deputy noticed an Amish man slumped over the right seat of the buggy. He attempted to wake the driver but was unable to as the horse continued forward.
The chase then ended with the horse ramming the deputy’s vehicle several times and causing the man to be ejected from the buggy.
When the driver regained consciousness, the deputy spoke with him and smelled alcohol on his breath. Empty beer cans were also found inside the buggy. Deputies then arrested the driver on charges of operating a vehicle impaired and transported him to the Orwell Police Department.
The man refused a field sobriety test. However, a breathalyzer test detected a blood-alcohol level of .063%.