A Tuggle Hill man was charged with DUI after crashing his car into a pole holding a railroad crossing bar on South Barnard Avenue this morning.
Police were called to the scene about 8:30 a.m. after Victor Lopez Jimenez, 21, flipped his 2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse when he hit the pole at an excessive rate of speed. The pole was destroyed but Jimenez was uninjured. His car came to rest upside down in a ditch next to the railroad tracks.
Police said a city of LaGrange utility worker in the area saw Jimenez speeding southbound on Barnard before the crash. Jimenez admitted he was drinking and there was evidence of alcohol in the car, including an empty case of Corona, officers said.
Jimenez was wearing a seatbelt, which likely contributed to his lack of injuries, police said. He was arrested at the scene.
Cpl. Wesley Engle of LaGrange police said Jimenez admitted to going 50 mph on the street, which has a speed limit of 25 mph.
Police notified CSX railroad of the crash, which had emergency vehicles blocking the tracks until the car was removed.

















