Hallettsville
Hallettsville Police Department
Hoffer's Drive In

HPD jails man for driving drunk after he crashes into local store

  • Damages didn't appear too terribly bad at Hoffer's Drive In Grocery on Sunday night. Unless you happen to be a bench, in which case, we're terribly sorry for your loss.
    Damages didn't appear too terribly bad at Hoffer's Drive In Grocery on Sunday night. Unless you happen to be a bench, in which case, we're terribly sorry for your loss.
  • The car, on the other hand, is going to need a little work, and its driver, a bail bondsman.
    The car, on the other hand, is going to need a little work, and its driver, a bail bondsman.

    Somehow, we’re almost certain that’s not what they meant when they made the Hoffer’s Drive In Grocery & Washeteria sign out front.

    Still, police had to arrest a man Sunday night after he reportedly took a very literal interpretation of that sign, smashed his vehicle into the washeteria side of the building, and then tried avoiding local law enforcement by driving his smashed-up car to a nearby apartment complex and parking it.

    HPD was dispatched to Hoffer’s, 115 W. Fairwinds St., at about 11 p.m. Sunday, July 3, after someone reported that a vehicle had collided with the business, destroying a bench out front and causing several damages to the brick wall itself.

    The caller further stated that the adult male driver had then sped away from the store, police said.

    It didn’t take officers long to spot the damaged car in the 100-block of Liveoak Street, where it was parked at the Pecan Chase Apartment Complex.

    Upon further investigation, officers reportedly found their man and had him perform a series of field sobriety tests, none of which went so well fort the alleged driver.

    The man was later booked into Lavaca County Jail for intoxicated driving (the man’s second arrest for that crime), and he was cited for striking a fixture.

    Officers further used the incident to issue a public service announcement later that night on Facebook to anyone who might be out and about this holiday weekend: “We strongly encourage you to call a ride,” they said. “Do not drink and drive!”

    And put your phone up, too, while you're at it. You’re not supposed to be looking at Facebook while you drive anyway.

    We added that last part, in case you were wondering.

    Hoffer’s also later posted a notice about the incident. Theirs said the washateria would be closed temporarily because of the damages sustained on the building’s exterior.

    “We thank you for your patience,” store management wrote.