Driver charged with OWI in New Year's Day crash

La Porte County Sheriff's deputies arrested a driver after he allegedly rear-ended another vehicle early Friday morning. Deputies say the driver was operating while intoxicated.

Deputies responded to a vehicle crash on Johnson Road, just west of CR400W just before 6 a.m. Friday.

A Cadillac Escalade was traveling eastbound on Johnson Road when it was rear ended by a Ford Mustang, according to deputies.

The Cadillac went off the south side of the road and landed on its side. The driver, Donald Coughlin, was trapped and had to be freed by firefighters.

The driver's passenger, his 9-year-old son, was helped out of the vehicle by bystanders.

Coughlin suffered neck and chest pain and was taken to IU Health La Porte for treatment.

The driver of the Mustang was identified as 22-year-old Diamond Harvey of Michigan City.

Investigators say Harvey was driving the Mustang at a high rate of speed when it struck the Escalade. The Mustang traveled 600-feet into a farm field after impact.

Deputies say Harvey's BAC was .13%.

Harvey was arrested and charged with three counts of operating while intoxicated, one class A misdemeanor and two class C misdemeanors.