Suspected drunk driver drives car into ravine

-- Deepa Bharath

A Newport Beach man who drove into a ravine west of 17th Street in

Costa Mesa on Sunday evening was not hurt but arrested on suspicion of

drunken driving, police said Monday.

Robert Hawkins, 49, who is accused of evading police, drove into the

oil fields at the western end of 17th Street, plunging about 20 feet into

a ravine.

Patrol officers followed Hawkins after receiving an anonymous tip that

he was possibly an out-of-control drunk driver, authorities said. He led

police on a brief chase before steering his car off the road.

Hawkins was taken to Hoag Hospital for examination, but was uninjured,

police said. He is awaiting arraignment and is being held in Orange

County Jail with bail set at $10,000.