PD: Suspected drunk driver hit airport fence

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BROOKINGS – A suspected drunk driver was arrested Sunday morning after police say he hit a fence on the south side of the Brookings Regional Airport, left the scene of the accident, and waited hours to report the crash.

The suspect, 22-year-old Alexander Nikolas of Brookings, was arrested on suspicion of DUI-third offense, hit-and-run, and open container, BPD Lt. Derrick Powers said. 

The crash was reported to police at 8 a.m. Sunday.

Nikolas told police he was driving east on West Eighth Street South at about 2 a.m. Sunday in his 2004 Chevy Trailblazer when he swerved to avoid something in the road, lost control, entered the ditch, hit the fence and entered airport property.

Nikolas contacted someone to take him to the hospital for treatment of injuries from the crash, Powers said. He was later released and contacted police around 8 a.m., and his vehicle was still at the crash site.

Powers said officers detected signs of alcohol consumption at the time of the report, and their investigation revealed he was impaired at the time of the crash.

Nikolas was arrested and transported to the Brookings County Detention Center.

The crash damaged both the Trailblazer and about 150 feet of fencing at the airport. Damage estimates were not immediately available.