Thief steals Ford Model A, crashes it into river

PRINEVILLE, Ore. — A man stole a fully-restored 1930 Ford Model A coupe Sunday and crashed it into an Oregon river, police said.

A 79-year-old man took his car to church Sunday to show it off, authorities said. But when he left it to get something to eat, sheriff's deputies said it was stolen and crashed into the Crooked River, south of Prineville, Ore.

According to Oregon State Police, Prineville police received a call that a car went off of Highway 27 into the river.

Before police arrived, Crook County Fire & Rescue paramedics found the driver, who witnesses said swam from the car to the shore.

The driver of the crashed car was identified as 34-year-old Erik Blake Halpin, who is described as a transient, said Capt. Michael Boyd. Halpin was taken to a hospital in Bend, Ore., and treated for his injuries.

After his release, Halpin was arrested for investigation of driving under the influence and unauthorized use of a vehicle.

Boyd said he couldn't release the name of the car's owner.

A tow company pulled the coupe from the river, but a damage estimate was not available.

Contributing: The Associated Press