Woman Drove Car On Pedestrian Footbridge Above River: Police

EAU CLAIRE, WI — A woman has been charged with driving while intoxicated after a camera captured her driving over a pedestrian footbridge above a river, according to police.

The incident occurred about 5:30 a.m. Tuesday in Eau Claire, police said. Officers received a report of a vehicle with a blown tire driving on a pedestrian trail, according to police, who said the car then crossed the Phoenix Park footbridge over the Eau Claire River.

“Can't believe we have to say this, but ... PLEASE do not drive on the Phoenix Park footbridge ... or sidewalks ... or any other footbridges in the city for that matter,” police said in a Facebook post that included video of the car crossing the bridge as well as driving on a sidewalk bordering Phoenix Park.

The bridge was not damaged, but the vehicle was, according to police, who said the driver, Amanda M. Larscheid, 28, failed sobriety tests and was arrested for a first offense of operating while intoxicated, police said.

“Larscheid denied driving on a bridge and when asked about the vehicle damage, she replied she ‘hit a rock or something,'” police said.

Larscheid was also cited with operating without a license, operating with improper tires and driving on a sidewalk, according to police.