Germany: Drunken 'Santa' crashes into house delivering gifts

A man in eastern Germany dressed up as Santa Claus had his driver's license confiscated overnight after crashing into the facade of a house while trying to deliver gifts around the town of Mühlhausen. 

The sloshed Santa was on a central street in the town of around 36,000 people, not far from the town's church, when he lost control of his vehicle and hit the front of a house and a parked car, police from the larger nearby town of Nordhausen said in a press release. 

"The house facade was seriously damaged, however, the Christmas gifts belonging to 'Santa Claus' were undamaged," police wrote, only ever referring to the suspect as the St. Nicholas-inspired bringer of presents in quotation marks.

A passer-by saw the crash and called to alert police. 

"At the subsequent traffic checks it became clear that 'Santa Claus' was absolutely incapable of driving, at which point 'Santa's' ongoing journey was curtailed and a blood sample was taken," police said. 

Police said they confiscated his driving license and initiated investigations on suspicion of drunk driving. They did not note details like how badly the man failed the blood-alcohol test. 

"Nevertheless, 'Santa Claus' did announce that the gifts would be delivered the following day," police said, presumably on foot or with assistance from a little helper or two. By German traditions, that would make his delivery a day late, with people typically exchanging gifts on the evening of December 24.

"In that spirit: Merry Christmas, and remember, even 'Santa Claus' must drive sober," police concluded. 

msh/ab (AFP, dpa) 

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