Drunk driver crashes into Heartland Events Center building

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. – Police say alcohol is a factor in a teenager crashing their vehicle into the Heartland Events Center early Thursday morning.

Grand Island Police say they were called to the Heartland Events Center at Fonner Park for a report of an unconscious female in a vehicle just after 5:30 a.m.

Arriving officers found an SUV that had collided with the south side of the Events Center building, and located Nyawaragak Puk, 19, unconscious in the driver's seat. 

Authorities say Puk was unresponsive to officers knocking on the vehicle's window, leading to them breaking the window to remove her. According to GIPD, the inside of the car smelled of alcohol. 

After waking up, officers performed a field sobriety test on Puk, which she failed. Puk refused to take a chemical breath test at the scene. 

Officers arrested her on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol, and took her to the Hall County Jail.

Heartland Events Center Executive Director Kyler Tarwater released a statement Thursday morning saying the crash will not affect future operations. 

"Through initial damage assessment, we are not expecting future events to be impacted by this incident," said Tarwater. "Thank you for your support and understanding as we begin work on repairing the south entrance area."

Puk is facing charges of DUI, refusal of a chemical breath test, minor in possession of alcohol, and felony criminal mischief. 

Grand Island Police are investigating further details of how the accident happened.