Driver asleep in Cook Out drive-through leads Rock Hill police on chase

A driver was found asleep at the wheel of a Rock Hill fast food restaurant, but started his car and led police on a chase when officers asked him to step out of the car for sobriety testing, according to Rock Hill Police.

Someone reported a driver asleep at the wheel in the drive-through of Cook Out on Automall Parkway about 3 a.m. Thursday, according to a police report. Officers smelled alcohol coming from the open driver side window as they approached.

The driver, 20-year-old Jacob Alexander Carrington, was asleep at the wheel with his foot on the brake and the vehicle in drive, police said. Officers called EMS after several unsuccessful attempts to wake Carrington. He eventually woke up confused, disoriented and with “extremely glassy, bloodshot eyes,” the report states.

Police asked Carrington to agree to sobriety testing, but Carrington said he wasn’t impaired and “just sleepy” from working all day, the report states. Carrington was asked multiple times to get out of the car for testing but refused.

Carrington then put the keys in the ignition, started the car and sped away, police said. Officers pursued the car to Marett Boulevard and Breen Circle.

Carrington was charged with failure to stop for blue lights, reckless driving and possession of beer under 21. He was placed in the Rock Hill city jail under $2,400 bond.

This story was originally published August 21, 2015 at 10:48 AM with the headline "Driver asleep in Cook Out drive-through leads Rock Hill police on chase."