Ford Mustang Crash On Larkin Avenue Leads To Joliet Police Arrest Warrant For Driver: Cops

JOLIET, IL —A Joliet motorist involved in a March 8, 2025 crash that injured Felipe Martinez Jr. is now facing felony aggravated driving under the influence charges from the Joliet Police Department. The criminal complaint was filed last Friday at the Will County Courthouse against Anthony Rene Morales.

The complaint indicates that he wrecked his Ford Mustang while under the influence of alcohol back, and that the crash resulted in great bodily harm to another person.

The second aggravated DUI charge indicates that Morales, while under the influence of alcohol, other drugs, or intoxicating compounds "to a degree that rendered the defendant incapable of safely driving," was involved in a collision on Larkin Avenue that resulted in great bodily harm or permanent disability to Felipe Martinez Jr. "and said violation was a proximate cause of the injuries."

According to Joliet police spokesman Dwayne English, at 2:44 a.m. March 8, 2025, officers responded to West
Jefferson Street and Larkin Avenue for a crash with injuries.

A Ford Mustang, driven by Anthony Morales, 20, was traveling eastbound on West Jefferson Street approaching Larkin Avenue when the vehicle lost control and struck a pole
on the northeast side of the intersection.

A 19-year-old male passenger had to be extricated from the vehicle by the Joliet Fire Department. Both Morales and the passenger were transported to St. Joseph Medical Center.
Morales sustained minor injuries, while the passenger suffered serious injuries.

English said that the investigation found that Morales was allegedly impaired at the time of the incident.

On March 20, 2026, traffic investigators obtained an arrest warrant charging Morales with two counts of aggravated
driving under the influence. Will County Judge John Pavich signed off on the warrant to arrest Morales, now 21 years old. He comes from the 1300 block of Joliet's Kenmore Avenue.

Quite often, the Will County judges signing off on a felony arrest warrant will order the defendant to be held without release, and brought before the court for their pretrial detention or conditions of release hearing.

In this case, Judge Pavich checked the box indicating "defendant to be released on own recognizance."