(La Porte County, IN) - A man who kept driving with a flat front tire after crashing was allegedly found to be impaired by alcohol in northern La Porte County, as Dean Seber, 56, was charged with Operating a Vehicle while Intoxicated after refusing to take a certified blood alcohol test.

Just before 5 a.m. on Friday, June 7th, La Porte County Police were contacted about a reckless driver traveling despite missing a tire in the area of U.S. 20 and Indiana 2 near Rolling Prairie. During a traffic stop, the investigation showed his front passenger side tire was flattened as a result of striking a guard rail in Saint Joseph County, police said.

The tire reportedly came off the rim at some point before a motorist called 911 during the four miles he kept driving prior to pulling over in his 2018 Dodge Ram on the shoulder of Indiana 2.

According to authorities, a portable breathalyzer test showed the Mishawaka man’s blood alcohol level was more than twice the .08 percent legal limit. Since PBT results are not admissible in court, he was reportedly offered to take a certified blood alcohol test but refused, which led to his automatic arrest under Indiana law for OWI.