Trucker who took sleeping pills falls asleep at wheel
EXETER TOWNSHIP >> A Northampton County man was arrested on Aug. 28 and charged with driving under the influence of drugs after he fell asleep at the wheel in Exeter Township three hours after taking the sleep medication Ambien in Baltimore.
Brock B. Claggett, 39, Easton, was stopped by Exeter police at Route 422 and Lorane Road, after motorists called 9-1-1 reporting that a tractortrailer driver who was cutting people off on Route 422 appeared to be asleep at the wheel.
Police gave the following account:
Claggett was weaving on the highway and nearly caused several accidents at the busy intersection of Perkiomen Avenue where it joins Route 422 at DeMoss Road, in front of the Exeter Commons shopping center.
Claggett’s vehicle was pulled over at Route 422 and Lorane Road.
Claggett appeared to be having a difficult time pulling the rig over to the shoulder. When the officer attempted to speak to Claggett he appeared to be under the influence, his speech was slurred, and he was falling asleep while talking to the officer.
Claggett then told the officer that he was having a hard time sleeping and had taken 1 1/5 Ambien sleeping pills three hours earlier. The truck driver said he was driving the truck from Baltimore to Pottstown when he started falling asleep at the wheel.
Claggett told police he informed his supervisor that he had taken the sleeping medication but the supervisor insisted he drive the load to Pottstown immediately.
Claggett failed a field sobriety test and actually fell asleep several times while attempting to complete the various tests. He was transported to Penn State Health St. Joseph Medical Center where he declined a blood test.