Police: Drunken Driver 'Upset' Over Election Causes Crash In Lino Lakes

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A woman gave police an excuse they've never heard before when they pulled her over for driving drunk and causing an accident.

She blamed her accident on Donald Trump winning the election.

Elizabeth Lundberg of St. Paul spent her 33rd birthday in jail after her arrest Wednesday.

Police say her blood alcohol level was four times the legal limit after the three-car accident at a busy Lino Lakes intersection.

While the excuse is unique, Lino Lakes police hope it can remind others of the dangers of drinking and driving.

During a busy evening commute on the day after the presidential election, Lino Lakes officers responded to a three-car accident at Lake and Main Streets.

"We started working on cleaning up cars, getting the road opened up again," Sgt. Chad Schirmers said.

Witnesses told police a car had rear-ended another stopped car at the red light, causing a chain reaction.

Schirmers says it didn't take long for officers to recognize the driver who caused the crash was showing signs of intoxication.

"It's unusual for anyone to be at that level," he said.

Schirmers says Lundberg was at almost four times the legal alcohol limit to drive. The police report says she told officers she had two beers, but they found an empty bottle of vodka in her purse.

"The level of non-injury is surprising because it was a significant crash with airbags deployed," Schirmers said.

No one had to go to the hospital, but the bigger surprise was the excuse Lundberg gave officers -- that she was upset about the outcome of the election.

"That was apparently just cause to get to that sort of intoxication and we should bring her home," Schirmers said.

The Star Tribune reports Lundberg told the paper she was being sarcastic and she's not really that into politics.

But Schirmers says the excuse was never the point.

"The message shouldn't be the catchy headline of the election results but it's that these instances continue to happen," he said.

He wants everyone to remember there is never an OK reason to drink and drive.

"Why put 100 other people at risk on the roadways?" he said.

WCCO tried to reach out to Lundberg Monday night but did not hear back.

She is charged with two gross misdemeanors for drinking and driving which both carry a maximum sentence of one year.

She had no prior drinking and driving offenses, according to police.