Reckless Driver Terrorizes Plainfield Subdivision: Joliet Police

JOLIET, IL —A portion of the Plainfield area was terrorized after dark on Wednesday as 32-year-old resident Gustavo Rodriguez revved up his car, after consuming large quantities of alcohol and he kept crashing into objects and vehicles, according to the arrest reports.

Joliet police captured their suspect later at the CVS Pharmacy parking lot on Drauden Road. Rodriguez was arrested and given his notice to appear in court on charges of DUI, DUI – BAC Over 0.08 and reckless driving.

Joliet police spokesman Dwayne English said the following events all happened shortly after 8 p.m. on Wednesday:

At 8:03 p.m., officers responded to the 2400 block of Ruth Fitzgerald Drive for a hit and run crash.

A Subaru Forester was southbound in the 2400 block of Ruth Fitzgerald Drive and struck the rear of an unoccupied Mazda 3 that was parked on the street facing southbound.

After this collision, the Subaru continued southbound on Ruth Fitzgerald and veered to the right and left the roadway onto a residence yard, striking a residential gas line and a fence.

The Subaru sped off without providing notice of the crash, and Nicor Gas later responded to repair the gas line.

While Joliet police investigating that crash, they were notified that the same Subaru Forester was involved in an earlier crash, striking a cinder block mailbox further down the street in the 2400 block of Ruth Fitzgerald Drive.

The Subaru then continued southbound when it is believed it collided into the vehicle and fence in the crash mentioned above, English noted.

While checking the area, Joliet police found the Subaru Forester with heavy front-end damage in the CVS parking lot at 2375 Drauden Road. Officers noted that the airbags appeared to be deployed and Rodriguez, the driver, was still inside.

Officers confirmed his vehicle matched the description of the vehicle that had been involved in the crashes on Ruth Fitzgerald Drive.

Rodriguez was placed into custody without incident after completing field sobriety tests. Officers recovered open containers of alcohol from Rodriguez’s vehicle.

Rodriguez received citations for:

• Operating a Motor Vehicle When Registration Suspended for Non-Insurance
• Failure to Reduce Speed to Avoid an Accident
• Leaving the Scene of a Property Damage Accident
• Improper Lane Usage
• Illegal Transportation of Open Alcohol by Driver.