An alert Bob Hope Airport Police Officer heard a loud bang while on patrol on the Empire side of the airport, went to investigate and found a driver had allegedly rammed one of the access gates to the runway and then struck a metal railing outside a Airport Hanger.
The officer requested a backup, while the suspect was still in his car inside the property. Several Airport Police units responded and assisted taking the driver into custody. The driver, identified as Ralph Earl Lucas, age 63, of North Hollywood was booked for DUI and his car was impounded after sustaining major damage.The gate also received major damage.
