Deconstructing a Steamroller DWI
April 17, 2009 2:52 PM | permalink
Posted by Susie
Last fall, police in Pflugerville, TX say they saw a steamroller weaving along a road at 4am, and then they arrested the driver, Ronald Howell (pictured) for drunk driving. Wow, right? Wouldn't it be amazing if there was video of it?
Howell, 32, allegedly failed field sobriety tests and told cops he'd been heading home from both a tavern and a nightclub when he jacked the "Dynapac Vibrator Roller" from a construction site.
His explanation? It was cold outside and he wanted to get home quickly.
Instead of telling Howell to invest in a sweater and giving him a lift home, police gave him a ride to jail, where he was arrested for driving with an invalid license and felony theft for swiping the roller, which is valued at $180,000.
I LOVE a man who can drive big machinery!!! ;-)
But he drives under the influence? No thanks....
Posted by: Glynne1964 | 04/17/09 6:29PM
It never fails -- some asshole comes along and ruins it for the rest of us inebriated heavy equipment operators. Sheesh.
Posted by: Farmkid | 04/18/09 11:19AM
inb4 george m.
At least Mr. Steamroller didn't take cold medicine. Clearly states on the label "Do Not Operate Heavy Machinery".
...What do you mean there's a law that says "Don't Drive Under the Influence"?
Posted by: Anon | 04/20/09 10:17AM
lol. I had two friends get a DUI and opperation without a licens on a backhoe at a construction site when we were in highschool. Nothing like getting busted by the cops for crushing beer cans with heavy machinery.
Posted by: Bryant | 04/20/09 3:53PM
No comment the story explained it all.
Posted by: Ernest | 04/21/09 1:51AM
WTF? My parents live in Pflugerville and never mentioned this last year...i'd think this would be something you'd call all your friends up to laugh about.
hmmm....steam roller huh? maybe he was having a Looney Tune Nightmare and decided to go roll down that pesky road runner eh?
Posted by: J. Kristen | 04/21/09 10:07AM
I just want to say from the video he doesn't even look at though he is tall enough to see over the steering wheel. If you think about it he could have used that as an excuse :)
Posted by: CosmicBrown | 04/25/09 12:05PM