A Chicago woman was arrested on Saturday, Jan. 18, after crashing her vehicle into the eastbound scale house on I-94, causing significant damage, authorities said.

Indiana State Police responded to the crash east of the Chesterton exit to find a 2022 Chevrolet Tahoe that had barreled through the scale house entrance at high speed. The vehicle struck a metal gate, plowed through the scale lanes, and collided with several street signs and light poles before coming to rest against a guardrail in the bypass lane. Debris from the crash shattered the scale house windows.

The driver, identified as Monserrath Lopez, 28, of Chicago, admitted she was attempting to drive home but was traveling eastbound on I-94 instead of westbound toward Illinois.

Authorities determined Lopez had consumed alcohol, prompting an Operating While Intoxicated (O.W.I.) investigation. She declined a certified chemical test, resulting in an O.W.I. refusal charge. Lopez was subsequently arrested and booked into the Porter County Jail.

Damage to the scale house, light poles, and signs is estimated to be several thousand dollars, police said.