SULPHUR – A driver, charged with DWI at least five previous times and whose blood alcohol level was more than three times the legal limit, managed to stagger off on foot after crashing his Mustang west of here.

About 6:30 p.m. Monday, State Police responded to a single-vehicle crash on U.S. 90. The crash occurred when James Granger, 28, of Vinton drove off the road into a grove of trees.

Police said Granger fled the scene and was located in a nearby pipeline right of way. Not suprisingly, he lost a foot race with pursuing officers.

Two hours after the crash, Granger’s blood alcohol content was 0.247. The legal limit in Louisiana is 0.080.

Granger was charged with sixth offense DWI, careless operation of a motor vehicle, possession of an open alcoholic beverage container in a motor vehicle, operating a vehicle while under suspension for DWI, resisting an officer, failure to report an accident, and driving under suspension.

Additionally, the license plate on the vehicle he was driving was seized for failure to provide proof of insurance. Granger was uninjured in the crash and was booked into the Calcasieu Parish Correctional Center.