A Louisiana man accused of driving drunk allegedly fled from state troopers on Sunday, ran into a swamp, and got bitten on both arms by an alligator. Louisiana State Police say 40-year-old Victor Rivas of Montz was arrested after a reckless driving report on I-10 in Metairie, which somehow escalated into a Toyota Supra with a blown tire, a marsh escape, an alligator attack, and a police drone, finally ending what the alligator couldn’t.
According to Louisiana State Police Troop B, troopers first received reports of a Toyota Supra being driven recklessly on I-10 near Bonnabel Boulevard in Metairie. The Supra allegedly hit a concrete barrier and then blew a tire, which most drivers would take as a sign from the universe to stop doing whatever it was they were doing. Instead, Rivas continued.
The car made it as far as I-310 in St. Charles Parish, where troopers eventually pulled Rivas over. They identified the driver as Rivas and noted signs of impairment. Rivas told them he was just heading home. Then, in a move that suggested his evening itinerary had changed, he made a run for it.
Rivas jumped off the elevated highway into the marsh below. Troopers and St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies later found him walking along US-61, also known locally as Airline Highway. When they approached him, Rivas turned and ran right back into the swamp, where police were waiting.
What Happened in the Marsh
According to Trooper Kyle Wagner of Louisiana State Police Troop B, Rivas tried to swim across a canal after running into the swamp a second time. That, Wagner said, is where the alligator entered the chat. More specifically, where the alligator’s teeth entered Rivas’s arm.
“Even after getting attacked by an alligator, he continued to evade arrest,” Wagner said. The alligator reportedly bit Rivas on both arms, which would normally be a fairly persuasive argument against continuing a foot chase. Rivas allegedly disagreed and continued to run. Troopers and St. Charles Parish deputies eventually enlisted a drone to track him through the marsh. After surviving the crash, fleeing the scene, the swamp, and the alligator, Rivas was finally taken into custody.
Rivas had an eventful time. He hit a concrete barrier, had a blown tire, was undeterred by a traffic stop, participated in a highway jump, then a swamp run, had an alligator bite him twice, and then made a second escape attempt. He then topped it all off by being captured with the help of a drone.
What Victor Rivas Was Charged With
After being treated for the alligator attack, Rivas was booked on charges of driving while intoxicated and resisting an officer, according to the Louisiana State Police. Police also obtained warrants for hit-and-run and careless operation charges tied to the original Metairie crash.
“Impaired driving can lead to serious and unpredictable consequences,” the agency wrote of the incident. “Motorists are urged to make responsible decisions, plan ahead, and always designate a sober driver. Louisiana State Police appreciates the strong partnership and coordinated efforts of the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office in bringing this incident to a successful resolution.”
The moral of the story here, at least in terms of general common sense, is not to drink and drive. Also, while it shouldn’t really need to be said, don’t run from police into a Louisiana swamp unless you’re prepared for every part of Louisiana to get involved.