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Police in Illinois said a suspected drunken driver sent officers on a search for a non-existent motorist after crashing his vehicle into a creek.
Investigators said the man, whose name was not released, lost control of his 2001 Ford Expedition west of Mascoutah Wednesday night and crashed into Silver Creek, the Belleville News-Democrat reported Friday.
Illinois State Police said they arrived at the scene at about 10:30 p.m. and the man, who was outside of the vehicle, told troopers he had come across the crash site and was unable to find the driver.
Police said the man stuck to his story for more than an hour while the Swansea Fire Department Dive Team searched the water for the fictional motorist.
"They ended up being out there about an hour trying to locate the guy the drunk said he couldn't find," Trooper Calvin Dye Jr. said. "It ended up with him admitting to being the driver."
Dye said the man failed a field sobriety test.
"He was fabricating because he was under the influence of alcohol."
The man was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence. State Police said other charges may be filed.
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