ELKHART — Elkhart police got a bit more than they bargained for when they pulled over a vehicle driving erratically Thursday morning.

Around 3 a.m. Elkhart police stopped a vehicle near the intersection of Lusher Street and Benham Avenue. Police say there were three males in the vehicle that all appeared to be extremely intoxicated. The driver, Sofio Espinoza, 42, of Elkhart was detained for operating while intoxicated.

One of the two other passengers in the car, a 33-year-old Elkhart resident, exited the vehicle to talk to the officer. Police say soon after he stood up, he lost his balance and fell to the ground. He struck his head on the pavement and was knocked unconscious.

He was rushed to Elkhart General Hospital then transferred to Memorial Hospital with an internal head injury.

The driver was transported to the Elkhart Police Department where he failed several field sobriety tests and refused to take the chemical test.

At that time, he was arrested for OWI refusal and driving without receiving a license.

There are no updates for the passenger’s condition at this time.