(La Porte County, IN) - A several-mile trip on an antique farm tractor in La Porte County Tuesday night resulted in the arrest of the driver for being impaired by alcohol after crashing into several mailboxes and causing other damage.

 

Daniel Krupa, 38, of Westville was booked into the La Porte County Jail for Class A misdemeanor operating while intoxicated.

 

According to La Porte County Police, officers about 11 p.m. (CDT) were dispatched to the area of Otis Road and County Road 100 North between Westville and Michigan City.  A woman following him reported seeing the tractor pulling a disc mower strike several mailboxes.

 

Upon arrival, police said officers found a 1975 John Deere farm tractor attached to a 2017 New Holland disc mower commonly used for cutting hay.  The disc mower was missing a tire from one of its wheels, allowing the rim to make heavy gouge marks in the pavement.  Police said another wheel on the hay cutter was bent in a way that would not allow the tire to roll.

 

An officer followed a trail of heavy gouge marks in the pavement for several miles into Porter County and noticed several recycling totes left beside the road for pick-up knocked over.

 

According to police, Krupa showing multiple signs of impairment told investigators he consumed only a mixed drink containing bourbon a few hours earlier in the evening.  He also denied knowing he had struck anything along the way, police said.

 

A portable breathalyzer test allegedly showed he had a blood alcohol level close to three times the legal limit.  He refused to take a certified blood alcohol test, though, which led to his automatic arrest under Indiana law for driving impaired, police said.

 

Police said a man and woman who know Krupa showed up at the crash site and were allowed to drive off with the tractor and have a tow truck come for the disc mower.

 

Krupa was being held in the La Porte County Jail on $900 bond.