LAPORTE

Police: Alcohol a factor in fatal pickup accident

Snow and alcohol were apparent factors in a single-vehicle crash Monday that killed a LaPorte man who fought in Iraq, police said

Benjamin McClanahan, 24, was identified with help from a tattoo of his military ID tags engraved on his abdomen, LaPorte County Chief Deputy Coroner John Sullivan said.

The LaPorte County Sherriff's Department said McClanahan was northbound and veered off Ind. 39 to his right near County Road 400 South at about 1:40 a.m. Monday.

His Chevy pickup traveled 315 feet off the road and hit a rock-covered embankment in front of a residence.

The vehicle then went airborne and came to rest on its side, police said.

He had a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.30, Sullivan said.

Sullivan said family members last saw McClanahan around 4 p.m. Sunday.

"They didn't really know where he had been," Sullivan said.

Sullivan said McClanahan was a lifelong resident of Wanatah until recently moving to LaPorte.

He lost an eye in combat and was training to become a union pipefitter, Sullivan said.