Raccoon Takes A Wild Ride On A Colorado Cop's Car

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO — As officer Chris Frabbiele raced to the scene of an accident, something flashed across his windshield and began blocking his view. A plastic bag? A pile of leaves? A piece of debris?

No. It was a full-grown raccoon, clinging for dear life and limb to the windshield. Somehow, the animal leapt onto the vehicle while Frabbiele was driving.

The Colorado Springs officer drove with the raccoon latched to the front of the vehicle, where it stayed until Frabbiele pulled over, according to The Denver Post. He was driving a large police van. (For more local news, subscribe for free to the Colorado Springs Patch to receive breaking news alerts and daily newsletters.)

Police spokesman Lt. Howard Black says the raccoon hopped off the van after Frabbiele pulled over and stopped driving. Images of the raccoon encounter from a van dash camera showed the animal appearing to cling to the windshield after it landed and crouching by the van's windshield wipers.

“How in the world did that raccoon hop on?” Black said to the Post. “It’s safe to say a raccoon hopping is not a common occurrence.”

Photo credit: Colorado Springs Police Department via AP