DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (CBS TAMPA) – Police say a drunk 22-year-old nearly wound up in jail before he was arrested.

According to reports, Joseph James Carrara of Port Orange was driving on Red John Road early Friday morning after a night at Frank’s Front Row in Daytona Beach when he drove his Toyota Tacoma through the north gates of Volusia County Jail.

Responding officers also noted damage to the jail’s south gate, but Carrara squeaked away from responding officers and a search helicopter before he was stopped roughly an hour-and-a-half later by a deputy he nearly crushed with his truck.

Police say Carrara drifted across lanes travelling around 70 miles per hour when he narrowly missed the deputy’s vehicle.

Upon failing a field sobriety test, an arrest report says Carrara eventually admitted that he found himself on the jail’s grounds accidentally but stopped short of admitting to the crash.

Police estimate the crash caused $1,500 in damage to the gate.

He was transported to the jail branch police say he trespassed on — this time charged with reckless driving, careless driving, DUI, resisting without violence and possession of a schedule II narcotic (Oxycodone).