Drunk Driver Leaves License Plate Behind After Hit-And-Run: Cops

DEERFIELD, IL — A Deerfield man accused of fleeing the scene of a drunken traffic crash last month faces a pair of felony DUI charges after leaving pieces of his license plate behind, according to police reports.

Christopher D. Sundberg, 57, was arrested on the evening of Nov. 16 after police were called to a traffic crash on Waukegan Road north of Hazel Avenue shortly before 6 p.m., police said.

Officers found a black Honda Accord that had just been rear-ended by a light-colored SUV while stopped at a red light, according to police reports. The force of the impact caused the Honda to collide with a blue Toyota Prius that was also stopped at the light.

Police were told the driver of the heavily damaged SUV, described as a man between 50 and 60 years old, about 5 feet, 10 inches tall, white and with gray hair and glasses, got out of the vehicle to survey the damage.

"After mumbling something unintelligible, the driver," later identified as Sundberg, "got back in his vehicle and fled the scene southbound on Waukegan Road," according to police reports.

An imprint of the words "Chicago Cubs" was visible on the back bumper of the Honda and two pieces of a broken license plate holder reading "Ohio State" were also found at the scene, police said.

The driver of the Honda gave police the Florida license plate of the SUV that had rear-ended him. Officers checked records and learned Sundberg had registered a beige 2000 Lexus SUV in Fort Meyers with matching plates. He had a suspended license, previous convictions for drunk driving and matched the description provided by the other driver.

A short time later, a Deerfield officer parked in a lot in the 300 block of South Waukegan Road noticed a damaged beige Lexus SUV headed into the Red Roof Inn parking lot from Waukegan Road. The officer noticed the license plate matched the one provided by the witness.

The officer said a man "stumbled out of the driver seat, dropping his cell phone on the ground in the process" after parking in the motel lot. The man identified himself as Sundberg and told police he had "no idea" why the officer might be interested in speaking with him.

The damaged front of the SUV featured a novelty Chicago Cubs license plate, affixed by a broken holder that just said "Alumni," according to police. The officer said the driver and passenger side front airbags had been deployed and there were items piled up inside. Sundberg seemed confused and was unable to explain how the Lexus had been damaged, police said.

"I might [have] hit something, but I am not sure," Sundberg said, according to the officer's report. The officer said Sundberg smelled strongly of alcohol and was "swaying any time he had to stand still."

A portable breath test indicated his blood alcohol concentration of 0.89 after police conducted field sobriety tests. A subsequent breath test taken shortly before 8:30 p.m. –2.5 hours after the crash – indicated a BAC of 0.081, according to police.

A Lake County grand jury returned a two-count indictment on Dec. 12. Sundberg, who could not be reached for comment, has been charged with two felony counts of aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol – for two or more prior DUI convictions and for DUI with a suspended license.

He was also charged with driving with a suspended license, operating an uninsured motor vehicle and leaving the scene of a traffic crash and cited for failure to reduce speed to avoid a crash and unsafe equipment. A pre-trial hearing has been set for Jan. 16.