(La Porte County, IN) - One man was arrested, while his passenger suffered a broken leg following a drunk driving accident where his car crashed into a NIPSCO pole and a tree.

 

Charges have been filed against Juan Perez Hernandez, 41, for driving while impaired. Court documents show Hernandez passed a vehicle from behind at a high speed, then crashed into a pole and tree Monday night in the 7600 block of W. 275 North.

 

Police said Hernandez fled from the vehicle on foot, but was found a short time later. A passenger in the vehicle, Juan Batista, suffered a broken upper leg, and was extracted from the heavily damaged Dodge Ram pick-up.

 

Hernandez said he was driving back to his home in La Porte after completing a construction job in Joliet, Illinois. His alleged blood alcohol level was .317 percent, well above the .08 percent legal limit. Police noted there were numerous empty containers of Bud Light in the cab of the truck.

 

Hernandez is being charged with a Level 5 felony, operating a vehicle while intoxicated, and causing serious bodily injury, as well as other counts, including operating a vehicle without obtaining a driver’s license.