CHARLESTON, W.Va. - A Charleston man was arrested early Saturday after crashing into the gate leading to the Governor's Mansion and leaving the scene on three wheels.

Mark Anthony McLane, 45, of 3814 Staunton Ave., was charged with aggravated driving under the influence after Charleston police said his blood alcohol content was 0.237, the criminal complaint filed in magistrate court showed.

McLane had allegedly driven his green Lexus SUV up Virginia Street and then kept coming toward Governor's Drive, immediately across the street, said Jay Smithers, Capitol Protective Services director.

McLane's vehicle first struck a large concrete flower planter around 3 a.m., which blew out the left front tire, Smithers said.

"The force from that took him into the gate," Smithers said.

The electronic gate is still being installed and Smithers said it is currently about 75 percent operational. The crash caused damage to the sliding section of the gate.

While a security guard watched from a nearby guard shack, McLane then pulled out and sped off, Smithers said. The guard called 911 and police were issued an all-points bulletin to watch for the green SUV.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - A Charleston man was arrested early Saturday after crashing into the gate leading to the Governor's Mansion and leaving the scene on three wheels.

Mark Anthony McLane, 45, of 3814 Staunton Ave., was charged with aggravated driving under the influence after Charleston police said his blood alcohol content was 0.237, the criminal complaint filed in magistrate court showed.

McLane had allegedly driven his green Lexus SUV up Virginia Street and then kept coming toward Governor's Drive, immediately across the street, said Jay Smithers, Capitol Protective Services director.

McLane's vehicle first struck a large concrete flower planter around 3 a.m., which blew out the left front tire, Smithers said.

"The force from that took him into the gate," Smithers said.

The electronic gate is still being installed and Smithers said it is currently about 75 percent operational. The crash caused damage to the sliding section of the gate.

While a security guard watched from a nearby guard shack, McLane then pulled out and sped off, Smithers said. The guard called 911 and police were issued an all-points bulletin to watch for the green SUV.

At Brooks Street, the three-wheeled vehicle finally played out and officers arrested McLane.

It was the third time in the past two years someone has struck the gate, Smithers said.

"That intersection has always been a major problem for us, especially in the middle of the night," Smithers said.

That area is heavily illuminated, and drivers have, at times, mistaken it for a continuation of Virginia Street, Smithers said.

Under West Virginia law, 0.08 is considered legally intoxicated. State lawmakers added an additional penalty of "aggravated DUI" for those with a blood alcohol content higher than 0.2.

McLane was charged earlier this summer with failure to pay $782 for workers' compensation coverage for employees of McMoon Bagels, whose home address was listed in the Secretary of State's Office as 509 42nd St., Charleston. He was charged with not paying for 2008's first quarter.

But papers filed with the secretary of state showed McLane founded the firm in 2004, when he was listed as the group's "organizer" and listed his address as 509 42nd St. The information also shows the firm was disbanded in 2005.

Reach Tom Searls at tomsea...@wvgazette.com">tomsea...@wvgazette.com or 348-5198.