Va. Firefighter Accused of Taking Drunken Joyride

HAMILTON, Va. – Authorities in Virginia say a volunteer firefighter is accused of taking a fire truck on a drunken joyride and nearly smashing into a deputy's patrol car.

The Loudoun County Sheriff's office says in a press release that 27-year-old Sean Richard Swanson, a volunteer firefighter in Hamilton, was speeding down a road early Saturday morning in the fire truck. The sheriff's office says four other volunteer firefighters who also had been drinking were in the truck with Swanson.

The release says a deputy had to veer into a ditch to avoid hitting the truck.

The deputy turned around and pulled over the truck. Swanson was arrested and charged with driving under the influence and unauthorized use of a vehicle.

A phone message left at a listing for Swanson was not immediately returned Sunday.