By Staff
NILES - Traffic was backed up and re-routed for several hours Friday night after a Berrien Center man crashed into and damaged a utility pole near the instersection of Fifth and Burns streets around 4:04 p.m.
Lee Will Harris, 63, 7880 Pokagon Road, Berrien Center, left the roadway in his 1986 Ford van, struck a curve, and then hit a utility pole.
When police arrived on the scene, it was discovered Harris was not injured in the crash. While interviewing Harris, police allegedly smelled the stong odor of intoxicants on Harris' breath and he was staggering around.
Harris told officers he had drank a couple of beers when he was aksed if he had been drinking.
Police administered three sobriety tests to Harris, which he was unable to complete. Police adminstered a breath alcohol test to Harris, he registered a blood-alcohol content of .183.
Harris was arrested pending charges for drving while intoxicated and trasported to the Niles Law Enforcment Complex where he was booked and lodged for an eight hour hold for intoxication with a $100 bond. As a result of Harris striking the utility pole, City Utilities crew were called to repair the pole and several Niles City Police and reserve officers were called out to work on traffic control.