Drunk Driving Facebook Status a 'Joke,' Teen Says

An Oregon teenager involved in a hit-and-run crash was recently arrested for the deed. His arrest appears to have resulted directly from him bragging about driving drunk on the popular social networking site Facebook.

According to reports, on New Year's Eve 18-year-old Jacob Cox-Brown of Astoria, Oregon, posted this as his Facebook status: "Drivin drunk ... classic ;) but to whoever's vehicle i hit i am sorry. :P"

Facebook Message Prompts Investigation

A long and complex sequence of events then followed: First, someone on Cox-Brown's 'friends' list sent the "confession" to Astoria police officer Nicole Riley, also using Facebook. (Source: usatoday.com)

Not long thereafter, Astoria Police received a call about a hit-and-run crash. An investigation of the incident showed that two parked vehicles had been side-swiped. Investigators had no way of telling who was responsible for the damage.

Later on January 1, Officer Riley received another Facebook message, this one informing her that someone had seen Cox-Brown's post and believed he was responsible for the hit-and-run crash. Not long after that, Astoria Police received a phone call backing up this accusation of Cox-Brown.

Astoria police finally visited Cox-Brown's Astoria home, where they found damage to his vehicle that appeared to match the damage done to the two parked cars.

All Just a "Joke," Teen Claims

Under questioning, Cox-Brown insisted the crash had nothing to do with driving under the influence. Instead, he claimed it was the result of icy road conditions. He says the comment he posted to Facebook was just a joke.

Because significant time had passed since the crash had occurred, police could not collect evidence allowing them to charge Cox-Brown with driving while under the influence of alcohol.

However, the Facebook messages sent to officer Riley certainly did assist Astoria police in finding Cox-Brown.

"It's one of those six degrees of separation kind of things," noted Astoria's deputy chief of police, Brad Johnston. "The officer's brother was at the party at the time of the crash." (Source abcnews.com)

Cox-Brown has not been charged with drunk driving, but he has been charged with two counts of failing to perform the duties of a driver. He is scheduled to appear in Astoria Municipal Court later this month.