'Heavily Intoxicated' Woman Charged With Crashing Into Squad Car

WAUKEGAN, IL — Authorities said a "heavily intoxicated" Zion woman crashed into the back of a Waukegan police car Sunday and attempted to continue driving until her car was disabled. An officer who was inside the squad car she slammed into was taken to an area hospital to get checked out, according to the Lake County Sheriff's Office.

Alisha Smith, 35, of the 2900 block of Willow Lane, was charged with causing between $500 and $10,000 in criminal damage to government property, a class 3 felony, as well as misdemeanor driving under the influence of alcohol, driving with a suspended driver's license and unlawful use of a driver's license, according to the sheriff's office.

Shortly before 2:30 a.m, a Lake County sheriff's deputy noticed a Chevrolet Cruze speeding 63 mph northbound on Lewis Avenue at Lauren Avenue in Waukegan, according to a statement from spokesperson Sgt. Chris Covelli.

Covelli said the sheriff's deputy, who had been heading south on Lewis Avenue, turned around to carry out a traffic stop on the speeding Chevy.

But moments after the deputy finished making a U-turn, the Chevy's driver — later identified as Smith — crashed into the back of stationary Waukegan Police Department squad car on Lewis Avenue near Ballentine Street, Covelli said.

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Smith continued for a short distance north before the Chevy broke down from the crash, according to Covelli.

Smith, who appeared heavily intoxicated, suffered some injuries but turned down medical attention and did not provide a breath sample, Covelli said.

The Waukegan police sergeant behind the wheel of the car Smith slammed into was taken to an area hospital for evaluation, Covelli said.

No information on the sergeant's injuries or condition was immediately available from a Waukegan Police Department spokesperson. It will be added here if received.

Smith was also cited for illegal transportation of an unspecified open container of alcohol by a driver, speeding and failure to reduce speed to avoid a crash, Covelli said.

Following a bond hearing Sunday, Smith was released on her own recognizance ahead of her next appearance in court Oct. 14.