Fiery Oswego Crash Injures 2, Driver Charged With DUI: Police

OSWEGO, IL — Oswego police arrested an Aurora man after a fiery car crash that required two hours of road closures at the intersection of Harvey and Wolfs Crossing roads early Sunday morning.

Police responded to the scene of the crash around 5:30 a.m. when they found a 2021 Kia Forte — driven by Chance Becker, 21 — resting in the middle of the intersection with its engine compartment on fire. Officers immediately went to extinguish the fire and help extract the driver, who was incapacitated, officials said. The passenger was able to exit the car.

In a preliminary investigation, police determined Becker was driving north on Harvey Road when he disobeyed a stop sign at the intersection with Wolfs Crossing Road, crashing into a trailer-carrying Chevrolet 3500 dump truck that was traveling east. The truck driver, a 55-year-old man from Aurora, was not injured, officials said.

While waiting for paramedics to arrive, officials said officers performed life-saving measures and first aid on the driver. Both Becker and the passenger of the Kia were brought to Rush Copley Medical Center before they were subsequently taken to Loyola Hospital based on their injuries, Oswego police said.

The intersection in Oswego was closed for about two hours while Oswego Fire Protection District firefighters extinguished the fire. Both vehicles involved in the crash were towed from the scene.

After the crash, Becker was charged with the following items and issued a recognizance bond at the hospital:

• Driving under the influence
• Illegal transportation of alcohol
• Unlawful transportation of cannabis
• Disobeying a stop sign
• Failure to reduce speed to avoid accident
• Operating uninsured motor vehicle
• Failure to wear seat belt

Becker is due to appear in court on July 21.