(La Porte County, IN) - Police say a driver involved in a recent single vehicle crash with a tree outside La Porte was impaired. The collision happened Wednesday night on State Road 2 and 400 West.

Tyler Barton, 28, is charged with operating while intoxicated. According to police, the La Porte area man told investigators he swerved to avoid a deer and wound up striking the tree. There was extensive front-end damage to his car.

Barton was treated for his injuries at the hospital, where a blood draw revealed an alleged blood alcohol level of more than three times the legal limit.

Police said Barton had a prior OWI conviction from 2016.