A suspected drunk driver turned a quiet mountain road into a chaotic crash scene Monday night, and then laughed her way straight into handcuffs.
The bizarre incident unfolded around 9 p.m. near Red Rock Road and Burnt Mill Road in the Lake Arrowhead area, where emergency crews rushed to reports of a car that had slammed into a tree.
But the wreck was just the beginning.
Witnesses told dispatchers the female driver appeared to be intoxicated and was trying to flee the scene before police arrived.
The situation escalated further when the woman’s sister showed up and allegedly tried to help her out of the mangled Toyota Corolla, possibly in an attempt to leave before police got there.
California Highway Patrol officers arrived just in time to stop any escape.
What should have been a routine field sobriety test quickly turned into a drawn-out spectacle. Officers spent nearly 30 minutes attempting to guide the suspect through the evaluation, far longer than the typical few minutes.
According to those on the scene, the woman appeared heavily impaired, laughing and joking throughout the process.
The more she struggled, the more amused she seemed. Police said her behavior only reinforced their suspicions. After administering a preliminary breath test, officers moved in, placing the giggling suspect in handcuffs and escorting her into a patrol vehicle.
She was taken into custody on suspicion of driving under the influence and transported to jail, where she spent the night.
Her vehicle suffered severe front-end damage, particularly on the passenger side.
No other injuries were immediately reported.
