(La Porte County, IN) - La Porte County Police used a drone last night to locate and arrest a suspected drunk driver who fled on foot into a corn field after a two vehicle collision.

 

Alvaro Lopez, 25, could face deportation after allegedly revealing he was an undocumented migrant.

 

He was booked into the La Porte County Jail on charges of operating while intoxicated and leaving the scene of an accident.

 

According to police, the investigation shows Lopez about 11 p.m. was stopped at a stop sign without his headlights and taillights on at Hupp Road and 400 South.  He was rear-ended by another driver, who told investigators he didn’t see the vehicle because it didn’t have any lights on.

 

After the collision, Lopez with a beer can in his hand walked up to the driver showing signs of impairment, police said.  Lopez was not at the crash scene, though, when responding officers arrived, said police.

 

It wasn’t very long that an officer using a drone located Lopez about 100 yards away in a corn field.  Another officer went to that location and Lopez complied with orders to come out.

 

His alleged blood alcohol level was nearly three times the legal limit.

 

Police said Lopez told another officer he didn’t have a driver’s license and was “in the United States illegally.”

 

Immigration and Customs Enforcement is notified whenever suspected undocumented migrants are booked into the La Porte County Jail for possible deportation.