(La Porte County, IN) - La Porte County Police say alcohol was involved in a vehicle crashing off Interstate 94 outside Michigan City last night.

26-year-old Joseph Barrette was arrested for OWI, claiming he was traveling at about 40 miles per hour but was appartently fast enough to shear an I-beam used to support a traffic sign. His vehicle flipped and slid more than 200 feet before coming to rest in some trees about two miles from the Michigan state line.

The Valparaiso man was treated for minor injuries before being taken to the La Porte County Jail with an alleged blood alcohol level of about .12 percent.

According to police, Barrette said he was trying to pull into a rest area when he lost control of the vehicle.