(La Porte County, IN) - A La Porte County man is accused of crashing his vehicle then stealing a vehicle that he drove home.  Derrick Jackson, 42, was arrested for theft and leaving the scene of an accident.

 

La Porte County Police were called about 7:30 a.m. Sunday to County Road 150 North near Mill Creek.  A vehicle had struck a tree and wound up overturned in a creek.

 

Police said Jackson was able to get out of the vehicle by possibly breaking the windshield then walked to a nearby home and stole a vehicle parked in a driveway.

 

He and the stolen vehicle were found at his residence just over a mile away from the crash site.  Police said Jackson had an odor of alcohol on his breath but he did not seem intoxicated.  It’s believed the crash happened several hours prior to the accident being discovered.

 

Police said Jackson, who had some cuts and bruising, declined medical attention.   Jackson said he remembered being at a bar that night but did not recall the crash or taking the vehicle, according to police.