(ANGOLA) - A Steuben County man with five prior drunken driving convictions faces new charges after crashing his SUV into a local liquor store Monday morning, according to the Herald Republican.
John E. Surfus, 69, of rural Angola, was arrested at Cameron Memorial Community Hospital following the crash at Gay's Party Store, 101 Growth Parkway.
Police responded about 11:28 a.m. and found Surfus still behind the wheel of a white 2004 GMC Envoy that had struck and destroyed a concrete safety post before punching through the building's wall, according to court documents cited by the newspaper.
Inside the store, an employee was sitting at a table covered in drywall dust but was not injured. Investigators said the table was the only barrier between the vehicle and the worker when the wall collapsed inward.
A breath test measured his blood alcohol concentration at 0.225%, nearly three times Indiana's legal limit.
Surfus was charged with Level 6 felony operating a vehicle while intoxicated with a prior conviction and Class A misdemeanor operating while intoxicated causing endangerment.
Court records show he has five previous operating while intoxicated convictions. If convicted on both counts, Surfus could face up to 3½ years in prison and fines of up to $10,000.