Man Under the Influence of Magic Mushrooms Causes Crash with Child on Lap

A 27-year-old man was found to be under the influence of magic mushrooms when he crashed his vehicle, with a 4-year-old child on his lap, causing significant damage and putting the child at risk of serious harm.

Freeman Lee Ruhe, 27, admitted to police that he had taken magic mushrooms before driving. The incident occurred in Hamilton, New Zealand, when Ruhe was driving with a young child on his lap. He attempted to maneuver his vehicle across a suburban road, which led to a crash into a neighbor’s garage. The garage collapsed on top of his car, but neither Ruhe nor the child was injured.

The crash happened around 10:15 pm on June 28, 2024. Ruhe was driving a Mitsubishi and had a 4-year-old child on his lap. He drove out of a driveway on Peachgrove Road, a busy 50km/h road, and then across the road into an adjacent driveway. The crash caused the garage to collapse on his vehicle.

Following the incident, Ruhe was taken to the police station for assessment. A medical practitioner determined that he was