Police K-9 Uninjured After Drunk Driver Crashes Into Cop Car During Traffic Stop: Police

LEESBURG, VA — A drunk driver crashed into a Loudoun County K-9 deputy's patrol car on Sunday while the deputy and his dog were inside, the sheriff's office said in a report.

The deputy, the dog, and the driver were all uninjured in the crash.

The driver, who police identified as 40-year-old Robert Charles Neumeister, was arrested. He is charged with hit and run, reckless driving, driving while intoxicated, eluding, and possession of a controlled substance.

Neumeister is being held without bond at the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center. If convicted, he could face up to 27 years in prison, based on Virginia's sentencing guidelines.

The crash occurred around 1:40 a.m. on Sunday on westbound Route 7 in Leesburg, according to the police report.

The K-9 deputy pulled over a speeding driver and returned to his car to write a ticket. The deputy had his emergency lights on, the sheriff's office said.

Another driver then crashed into the deputy's car while the deputy and the police dog were inside. Authorities said the deputy and dog were not injured, but their car was damaged.

Investigators said that the driver who hit the deputy, Neumeister, tried to drive away after the crash. He eventually pulled over, police said.

Virginia's drunken driving laws are among the harshest in the nation, the DMV said. If a driver is convicted for a first DUI offense, the minimum punishment includes a $250 fine and a revocation of the driver's license for one year. A DUI conviction can also require the installation of an ignition interlock device.

Across the country, 28 people die in drunken driving crashes every day, according to the DMV.

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