Hit and Run Driver Claims She Left Scene So Ice Cream Wouldn’t Melt

Leaving the scene of an accident is a crime, but one imagines that in the presence of extenuating circumstances, police are probably somewhat understanding.

For instance, a passenger in medical distress is probably a situation in which leaving the scene of an accident is justifiable to some degree. Or during extreme weather conditions, when it may not be safe to mill about outside a car.

Perhaps a natural disaster evacuation would count. Or even unsafe circumstances, such as an accident in a remote location or when one party is deemed to be an aggressor, such as a known stalker bumping your car to extricate you from it before knocking you out and creepily stroking your hair.

Unlikely, however, to excuse you from fleeing a scene, specifically after rear-ending someone? The presence of ice cream in your car. I mean, how much ice cream can you possibly have in a car to warrant driving away after you’ve allegedly hit someone? What’s the absolute highest value for a pint or half-gallon of the creamy summertime treat?

But 58-year-old Flora Burkhart of Arkansas told cops exactly that after they tracked her down for rear-ending Derek Parker’s pickup truck.

Whether there really was ice cream in Burkhart’s vehicle when she engaged in the hit-and-run behavior, or the time-sensitive treat had just been invented to get out of trouble for leaving the scene remains to be seen, and Parker followed Burkhart home before calling police.

Local news reports:

“When police asked Burkhart why she left the scene without stopping she said, ‘I left because I didn’t want my ice cream to melt.’

“Burkhart also explained that she didn’t think there was enough damage to the vehicles to call police. Burkhart was issued a citation for following too closely and leaving the scene of an accident.”

And so we ask… would you leave the scene of an accident for a Klondike bar?