Drunk Driver Found Passed Out At Railroad Crossing: Cops

RIVERSIDE, IL — A drunk driver was arrested after he was found passed out in his car at a railroad crossing, police said. Mateo Hernandez-Hernandez, 28, of Chicago, was charged with two counts of DUI, illegal parking on roadway and transportation of open alcohol and given several other traffic citations.

Police said an officer saw Hernandez's car stopped in an active traffic lane at 2:49 a.m. Monday, Dec. 10 in the southbound lanes of Harlem Avenue at East Burlington and Riverside. Both Hernandez and the front-seat passenger were passed out, slumped over and the car was running, according to a police report.

Police said the officer pulled behind the car, activating his emergency lights. He approached Hernandez and the passenger to make sure they were breathing and not in need of medical attention.

According to police, when the officer opened the door, a can of beer fell out of the vehicle and he could smell a strong odor of alcohol coming from Hernandez. Officers had to physically shake both Hernandez and the passenger to wake them up.

Police said Hernandez then attempted to put his car in drive and drive away. Officers had to reach into the vehicle, turn the car off and remove the keys.

Hernandez performed roadside field sobriety testing, and failed all testing, according to officials. Police said he was arrested and while searching the vehicle before it was towed, officers discovered numerous open containers of alcohol inside the vehicle.

Police said Hernandez provided a breath sample and his BAC was .194, which is two and a half times the legal limit.

“It is becoming more common for impaired drivers to pass out while waiting for long freight trains in the middle of the night. In this case it took the freight train about 12 minutes to clear all crossings before the car could have continued southbound on Harlem," Chief Tom Weitzel said in a release. "During this time the driver and passenger passed out from their alcohol levels and when the train cleared and gates went up, the driver remained passed out in an active traffic lane. Fortunately, he was taken into custody and arrested before he could have continued to drive and seriously injure or kill himself or other motorists."

Photos provided by Riverside Police Department.