Drunken Driver Causes 5-Vehicle Crash that Sends 4 to Hospital: Police

JOLIET, IL — A 50-year-old Joliet woman was charged with aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol after allegedly causing a five-vehicle chain-reaction crash Thursday in Joliet.

Officers arrived at around 7:26 p.m. Thursday to a five-car accident at the intersection of Jackson and Collins streets, according to Joliet Police Deputy Chief Ed Gregory. The vehicles were traveling eastbound on Jackson in the inside lane approaching Collins St.

A 36-year-old Joliet man driving a 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee told police he saw 50-year-old Maria Garcia in a 1991 Honda Accord rear end a 2003 Ford F150 pickup truck driven by a 53-year-old Lockport man who was stopped at a red light at the intersection, Gregory said.

Garcia’s Honda sustained heavy front-end damage and smashed into the back of the pickup truck.

Officers made contact with Garcia and could allegedly smell alcohol on her breath.

“She had all the indicators of being intoxicated,” Gregory said.

Police spoke with another witness, who said Garcia was traveling recklessly eastbound on Jackson St.

“This witness stated that he observed the vehicle weaving side to side in her lane and advised that her vehicle drove up on the sidewalk on Jackson Street,” Gregory said. “She returned to the street and that’s when he said he saw her hit the pickup truck.”

After Garcia allegedly rear ended up the pickup truck, it caused the Lockport man to rear end a 2006 Chevy Cobalt driven by a 37-year-old Joliet woman, who in turn rear-ended a 2007 Chevy Impala driven by a 49-year-old Lockport man.

Garcia’s car also bounced back and struck the front of a 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by a 36-year-old Joliet man.

Garcia complained of injuries and was taken to Silver Cross Hospital, where a blood test was performed, Gregory said.

The 53-year-old Lockport man and his passenger, a 73-year-old Joliet woman, were also taken to the hospital with minor injuries. A Lockport toddler in the Chevy Impala was taken to the hospital out of precaution.

All the injured parties were taken to Silver Cross Hospital by the Joliet Fire Department.

Garcia was arrested for aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol, driving under the influence of alcohol, failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, improper lane usage, no valid driver’s license and no insurance.