Deerfield Drunk Driver Causes 7-Car Crash In Parking Lot: Police

DEERFIELD, IL — A Deerfield man faces drunk driving and hit-and-run charges after crashing into six cars parked in the lot of his own apartment building and taking off running from the scene, according to police reports.

Jeramy L. Kennison, 39, of the 1500 block of Lake Cook Road, was arrested shortly after 2 a.m. on Nov. 2 and charged with one count of misdemeanor driving under the influence of alcohol and failure to give information after striking an unattended vehicle.

About an hour earlier, Kennison had been behind the wheel of a black 2014 Cadillac CTS that sped into the parking lot of his building and jumped the curb, totaling three other cars and heavily damaged another.

A resident of the building told police he called 911 after hearing a loud crash and stepped out onto the balcony. He saw Kennison get out of the driver's seat.

"Are you OK?" he shouted. Kennison put a "piece of paper" into the car before staggering away. When the witness yelled down again, Kennison looked up and took off running, according to police reports.

Initially, multiple officers from Deerfield, Bannockburn and Riverwoods searched the surrounding area. Police said K9 unit from Bannockburn ultimately traced a scent from the parking lot to the west side of the building.

Soon dispatchers learned the owner of the Cadillac lived at the site of the crash and provided his cell phone number. A responding officer left him a voicemail and Kennison returned to the call, telling her he was already back upstairs in his apartment. Police said he would eventually voluntarily came down to the scene of the seven-car crash blocking traffic in the lot he has been charged with fleeing.

Kennison told officers he did not know what had happened to his vehicle. He declined medical attention and refused to provide a breath sample or answer questions, according to police. He pleaded not guilty to both charges and faces a pre-trial hearing Jan. 7. He could not be reached for comment.