Garbage truck driver: Raccoon jumped in cab, caused wreck

GONZALES, La. — The Gonzales Police Department says a masked bandit is on the loose after leaping into a garbage truck and causing a crash.

A news release Tuesday said the driver told investigators a big raccoon leaped into his cab, landing on his chest and legs as he pulled away from a stop on Christmas Eve.

The Advocate reports that the driver told investigators he was frightened, stood up, and accidently hit the gas pedal. The truck knocked over a light pole.

Both driver and raccoon jumped out. The raccoon ran.

The driver was not ticketed.

Neither he nor the raccoon was hurt, but the truck had to be towed.

WBRZ-TV reports that the news release ends, "The raccoon is still at large with an active warrant pending."

This story was originally published December 31, 2014 at 12:33 PM with the headline "Garbage truck driver: Raccoon jumped in cab, caused wreck."