A Ford Mustang convertible is a fantastic way to enjoy California’s scenic roads. California’s waterways? Not so much. According to the California Highway Patrol’s Solano office, one Mustang driver recently discovered that the hard way after sending his S197-generation pony car into the water while traveling westbound on State Route 37 near Sonoma Raceway. Authorities say the driver had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.25 percent, more than three times California’s legal limit.
As you might expect, the driver’s version of events differs from what witnesses reported. According to the CHP, the driver claimed he swerved to avoid an animal in the roadway, causing him to leave the pavement and end up in the water. However, an eyewitness told authorities there was no animal present, and reported seeing the driver asleep after the Mustang came to rest in the water.
Fortunately, no one was injured during the incident. The driver was safely rescued by the Vallejo Fire Department before being taken into custody, and the rescue itself may have been the most unusual part of the entire story. Photos released by CHP show a ladder stretched across the water to reach the stranded Mustang; the driver was required to climb across it to return to dry land, creating what may be one of the strangest sobriety-test-like obstacle courses ever seen.
Photo: Facebook / California Highway Patrol
Once safely back on shore, the driver was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence. CHP is using the crash to encourage drivers to plan ahead if they intend to drink, whether that means using a ridesharing service, calling a taxi, or designating a sober driver. The good news is that the driver survived the incident. The bad news is that his Mustang unexpectedly got a taste of swimming — and it wasn’t particularly good at it.
