Al Unser Jr. charged with DUI after Las Vegas-area freeway crash

LAS VEGAS (AP) _ Two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Al Unser Jr. was charged with driving under the influence after leaving the scene of a freeway crash. <br/><br/>Unser was arrested after he was identified

Friday, January 26th 2007, 2:10 pm

By: News On 6

LAS VEGAS (AP) _ Two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Al Unser Jr. was charged with driving under the influence after leaving the scene of a freeway crash.

Unser was arrested after he was identified as the driver of a car that sideswiped another vehicle on the Las Vegas Beltway on Thursday, Nevada Highway Patrol Trooper Kevin Honea said.

Unser's vehicle had little damage, but the other car crashed into a cement center median. The driver reported no injuries at the scene, Honea said Friday.

Honea said Unser failed several field sobriety tests before being taken into custody. The 44-year-old Unser was charged with driving under the influence, misdemeanor hit and run, failure to render aid in an accident and failure to report an accident.

Andrew Leavitt, a lawyer representing Unser, did not immediately respond to a message Friday.

Unser is the son of Indianapolis 500 racing great Al Unser and nephew of three-time Indy winner Bobby Unser. He won the Indy 500 in 1992 and 1994, two CART points titles and two IROC championships.

Unser has had bouts with alcohol abuse and depression. He underwent treatment for alcohol abuse in 2002 after his girlfriend said he hit her in the face while drunk in Indianapolis. Prosecutors did not file charges.