(La Porte County, IN) - A trip to a local winery turned almost tragic as a result of a customer nearly causing motor vehicle collisions after leaving while impaired.

 

Debra Garcia, 63, was arrested Tuesday afternoon.

 

According to La Porte County Police, an officer responded to the Michigan City area on a complaint about a “vehicle driving all over the roadway.”

 

The officer then located and began following the driver, who pulled out in front of an oncoming sport utility vehicle at Indiana 212 and Tryon Road. The driver of the SUV braked hard, managing to avoid a collision. About a half-mile later, Garcia reportedly turned onto 600 West and veered over the center line into oncoming traffic just prior to being stopped. 

 

The investigation revealed the Hammond woman came to enjoy the casino and have some wine but wound up drinking a whole bottle of it prior to leaving the winery. She had a 1.65 percent blood alcohol level at the time of the incident.