Man arrested for crushing car

PUNTA GORDA, Fla., Feb. 27 (UPI) -- Authorities in Florida said a man was arrested for repeatedly driving his over-sized van over a car at the Redneck Yacht Club off-road park in Punta Gorda.

Charlotte County sheriff's deputies said they were called to the club at 5:05 a.m. Saturday by a woman who told them her 1994 Toyota Corolla had been crushed in the parking lot while she was "mudding" with friends, the Sarasota (Fla.) Herald-Tribune reported Monday.

Deputies said they determined the car had been repeatedly run over by Norman Le Nowling, 40, in his large van equipped with 5-foot wheels after two other vehicles failed to drive over the car's hood. A security guard told deputies he had seen a crowd encouraging the drivers and telling them the owner of the car did not care if it was crushed.

Nowling was arrested on a felony criminal mischief charge and released after posting $2,500 bail.

Deputies said the incident took place during the annual "Swamp Cabbage Weekend," which draws thousands of people.