A South Bend man was arrested after he struck an Elkhart County Sheriff’s Department police vehicle at 5:10 a.m. Thursday.

Robert Flowers, South Bend, was taken to the Elkhart County Jail on charges on driving while suspended with prior convictions and operating a vehicle while intoxicated, a felony. He was found to have a previous conviction of OWI in July 2011.

Sean Holmes, undersheriff, Chief Deputy with the Elkhart County Sheriff’s Department reports the accident occurred on Old US 33, west of Nappanee Street in Elkhart.

Flowers was operating a 1996 white Chevrolet Tahoe eastbound on Old US 33, approaching the curve near Nappanee Street.

Elkhart County Sheriff’s Officer Bryant Byler, was parked approximately 10-feet off the roadway to the southeast of the curve in a business driveway when Flowers’ vehicle went off the roadway, failing to negotiate the curve. Flowers’ vehicle struck the patrol car causing extensive damage.

Byler attempted to move the squad car out of the path of Flowers’ vehicle, but could not avoid being struck.

Flowers’ vehicle continued eastbound colliding with a signpost and guide wires for an AEP pole before coming to a stop.

Both drivers were not injured.