Indiana State Police say a suspected drunk driver crashed through the front gate of the state prison in Michigan City.

The LaPorte County Dispatch Center got a call about a possible drunk driver in a silver Chevrolet Silverado on US 421 at around 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 9.

A short time later, dispatchers received another call. This phone call reported that the driver of a silver Chevrolet Silverado had crashed through the main gate of the Indiana State Prison.

The truck was eventually stopped and the Indiana State Police were called to investigate.

During the investigation, ISP determined that the driver of the pickup truck, 62-year-old Robert Merriman, of Winamac, had consumed alcohol and had a .14% BAC.

Merriman was taken to the LaPorte County Jail on preliminary charges of operating while intoxicated, operating a vehicle while intoxicated (endangering), and criminal trespass.