(La Porte County, IN) - A La Porte County man was arrested for driving impaired after he allegedly struck a fence and fled the scene.

 

He didn’t get very far down the road after the crash, though, because of his vehicle becoming disabled.

 

Andrew Samuelson, 25, is charged with operating while intoxicated and leaving the scene of an accident.

 

Samuelson hit the fence Saturday evening with a 2014 Honda Civic in the 4300 block of E. 300 South, according to La Porte County Police.

 

Police said responding officers located him outside the freshly damaged vehicle just over a mile to the west on 300 South.

 

According to police, Samuelson explained a blown tire caused him to leave the road but he didn’t realize he had struck a fence.

 

His alleged blood alcohol level was .147 percent.

 

Police said a witness told investigators Samuelson was looking down at his “cellular device” when he left the road.  The OWI was upgraded to a felony due to Samuelson having a prior OWI conviction in Porter County.

 

A tow truck was called for his vehicle.