Suspected Drunk Driver Plows into DUI Checkpoint

A 29-year-old man crashed and was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs after failing to stop at an overnight sobriety and driver license checkpoint in San Clemente that netted two other arrests, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department reported Sunday.

The crash happened about 11:30 p.m. Friday when James A. Gates failed to stop at the checkpoint, which was set up at El Camino Real and Escalones between 7 p.m. Friday and 3 a.m. today, said Orange County sheriff’s Lt. Jeff Hallock.

No deputies were hurt and Gates was uninjured, Hallock said.

Gates was arrested on suspicion of DUI and failing to stop at a checkpoint, the lieutenant said.

A total of 568 vehicle passed through the checkpoint and of those, 523 were screened, according to the sheriff’s department.

Deputies directed 24 vehicles into secondary screening and 10 drivers were given field sobriety tests.

One other person was arrested on suspicion of DUI and another was collared for an outstanding warrant, authorities said.

Two drivers were found to be unlicensed and one had a suspended license, according to the sheriff’s department, which reported that one other person was cited for driving with a provisional license.

Two vehicles were towed from the scene, one to be stored and the other on a 30-day impound, officials said.

– City News Service

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