(La Porte, IN) - A La Porte man allegedly struck an ex-girlfriend with his vehicle on purpose.  Miguel Contreras has been sentenced on a lesser charge.   He was given two years in the La Porte County Jail and six months on probation.  Originally, he was charged with attempted murder but was convicted of criminal recklessness.

According to police, Contreras became angry when he and his ex-girlfriend saw each other

last year at Dollar General on the city's west side.  He got behind the wheel of his vehicle and backed into the woman on foot on more than occasion, police said. 

According to police, the woman was pinned between the car and a wall.  She was also dragged by the vehicle.   The incident happened near the Family Express on J Street.  Police said the woman was in the hospital for two days with scrapes, contusions and another injuries.

According to authorities, it appeared from statements by witnesses that Contreras was trying to kill her but his intentions became more difficult to prove when issues developed with some of the evidence in the case.