(La Porte County, IN) - A driver was allegedly impaired while veering around a spot where a La Porte County highway was temporarily closed from a motor vehicle crash.  Felipe Alvarez, 41, of Gary is charged with Class A misdemeanor operating while intoxicated.

Police vehicles were blocking the westbound lanes of U.S. 20 near Fail Road Saturday night to allow the accident to be investigated and the wreckage cleaned up.  La Porte County Police said Alvarez drove around the police vehicles and into the eastbound lanes to get around the crash scene while other westbound travelers waited behind the blockade for the westbound lanes to reopen.

After a short chase, Alvarez pulled over and the pursuing officer detected an odor of alcohol on his breath.  Police said his alleged level of impairment was not known because Alvarez refused to take a blood alcohol test, which resulted in his automatic arrest for OWI under Indiana law.

The officer noted in his report there were several open containers of liquor and beer scattered around inside his vehicle and under the driver’s seat.

Police said Alvarez admitted to consuming alcoholic beverages while attending at Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fight in South Bend.