Man, 64, who crashed into Bob Hope Airport gate was allegedly drunk

The man who was arrested Tuesday night after crashing his car through a security gate at Bob Hope Airport was allegedly drunk at the time, according to Burbank police.

Ralph Lucas, 64, of North Hollywood was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol and released from custody Wednesday morning, police Sgt. Darin Ryburn said.

Lucas lost control of his 2000 Ford Escort shortly before 9:30 p.m. Tuesday and plowed through Gate 120, a secure entrance to a cargo shipping area, airport spokesman Victor Gill said. The railing for a walkway to a nearby building was also mangled in the crash.

Gill said an airport security officer was on patrol about 100 yards away when the crash occurred and was at the scene in under a minute.

The crash did not pose a security threat to runways and had no impact on airport operations, he added.

-- Joe Piasecki, joe.piasecki@latimes.com

Follow on Twitter: @JoePiasecki.

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