CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A man was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence early Sunday after crashing his car near a Clearlake restaurant.
Juan Barnabe, 26, was involved in the solo-vehicle wreck and afterward was taken into custody, according to Sgt. Tim Hobbs of the Clearlake Police Department.
As of Sunday afternoon, police had not confirmed Barnabe's city of residence, Hobbs said.
Hobbs said that at approximately 6:19 a.m. Barnabe was driving eastbound on Lakeshore Drive at a high rate of speed when he lost control of his vehicle – a green 1995 Honda Civic EX – and went off the road at Lakeshore and Emory Avenue.
Barnabe's car rolled and came to rest on its roof on the north edge of the property where Howard's Grotto restaurant is located, Hobbs said.
The car hit a concrete pole and also took out a sign, according to Hobbs.
Lake County Fire units were dispatched to the scene shortly after 6:30 a.m. on the report of an arm injury as a result of the crash, according to radio reports.
Barnabe was the vehicle's solo occupant, Hobbs said.
“He was transported to the hospital to get medical treatment for some injuries and then after he was arrested for DUI,” Hobbs said.
Clearlake Police officers have not had previous contacts with Barnabe, according to Hobbs.
Last November, a pickup traveling at a high rate of speed crashed into another vehicle before hitting the Howard's Grotto building, as Lake County News has reported.
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