Cops: Teen, Injured after Crash, Texted Mom to Move Drugs from Trunk

PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. (CBS NEWS) — A man was arrested after crashing his car and sending a text message to his mother asking her to remove the suitcase of illegal prescriptions in the trunk, reports CBS affiliate WPEC.

According to the criminal complaint, when Palm Beach County Fire Rescue arrived on scene of a car accident on Dec. 16, the driver, 19-year-old Nicholas Hipp, stated that he was cut off by a truck making a u-turn.

Hipp reportedly told deputies he swerved to avoid the truck, causing the crash. Hipp later told deputies he may have fallen asleep while driving, and the original statement was withdrawn.

While in the back of the rescue truck being treated for his injuries, Hipp allegedly texted his mother asking her to remove a suitcase from the trunk of his car.

Palm Beach County Sheriff’s deputies began to search the trunk and located an unlocked suitcase that reportedly contained 63 white tablets identified at Alprazalom (Xanax), 79 green tablets also identified as Alprazalom, a box containing bags with marijuana, a digital scale with white residue, and a glass smoking pipe with marijuana residue.

Deputies conducted an interview with Hipp in which he reportedly admitted that he suffers from anxiety and purchases medicine on the street because he does not agree with the pharmaceutical industry. He also reportedly admitted to using the scale for his purchases and bags to store his pills in case he needs just a couple at a time.

Hipp was arrested and possession with intent to sell prescription drugs, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s office booking blotter website says Hipp posted bond.