Police arrest fleeing driver hiding in Lustenau cornfield

A 23-year-old man who fled from police in a car and then hid in a cornfield was arrested in Lustenau on Wednesday, ORF reported. A police dog patrol located him after officers deployed several patrol cars, a helicopter and a drone.

The incident began at about 4.20 p.m. when Lustenau’s municipal security patrol saw a car in which a child appeared not to be wearing a seat belt. When officers tried to stop the vehicle, the driver accelerated and fled towards Hohenems.

Police said the man drove at excessive speed through built-up areas and committed numerous traffic violations. Several other road users had to swerve to avoid collisions.

Driver left car and ran into cornfield

The pursuit by car ended near Widnauer Straße. The man abandoned the BMW, leaving a child and a woman inside, and continued fleeing on foot through a cornfield.

Police surrounded the field and eventually arrested him after a police dog patrol found him.

Further investigations found that the German car was fitted with stolen number plates. Officers also found cannabis resin and cocaine inside the vehicle.

The Feldkirch public prosecutor’s office ordered the man to be taken to Feldkirch prison. He will face charges for numerous administrative offences as well as under Austria’s narcotics and criminal laws.

Police are also seeking witnesses who had to swerve to avoid the fleeing BMW. They are asked to contact Lustenau police station.