Driving over 100 miles per hour while over three times the legal limit for alcohol reportedly led to the arrest of a South Bend man in LaPorte County Friday afternoon. The LaPorte County Sheriff’s Office says it happened on a stretch of U.S. 20 that has seen several fatal accidents in the past year.
Around 4:30 p.m. Friday, police say they got a 911 call about a black Dodge Avenger heading westbound at a high rate of speed and making unsafe lane changes. The car reportedly turned around near U.S. 35 and started heading eastbound.
A LaPorte County Police sergeant reported seeing the car parked at a gas station at U.S. 20 and State Road 39, before leaving eastbound on U.S. 20 at a high rate of speed. Near County Road 125 West, another LaPorte County deputy reportedly clocked the car at 104 miles per hour and immediately gave chase.
Police say they were finally able to stop the car near Range Road. Officers determined that the driver, Grady Bobbitt, 62, was impaired. A blood test later found Bobbitt’s blood alcohol level to be .27 percent, according to the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Office.
Bobbitt was taken to the LaPorte County Jail on misdemeanor charges of operating while intoxicated and reckless driving. Bobbitt was released Monday, after posting bond.
