Police Say Drunk Lusk Man Rammed Stolen Skid Steer Into Local Motel

A man accused of drunkenly driving a stolen skid steer into the Best Western Pioneer motel in Lusk could get up to 10 years in prison if convicted. Michael France waived his preliminary hearing Tuesday, and his case is now headed to felony-level district court. He is charged with grand theft and misdemeanor driving under the influence of alcohol.

Longtime motel general manager Christina Pacheco was working the front desk just before midnight May 7 when confused and irritated customers started filtering into the lobby asking why the building had suddenly “moved and shook.” When she stepped outside, she found a crowd gathered near a skid steer that had gouged into the brick exterior wall, leaving fresh damage. Witnesses told her the operator struck the building two or three times. “People do stupid things when they’re drunk,” Pacheco said. “This could have been really, really bad.”