Inebriated Driver Flees Crash, Then Drives Through Grass Before Rolling Over: Plainfield Police

PLAINFIELD, IL — A 19-year-old Aurora man driving intoxicated April 7 through Plainfield is accused of fleeing the scene of a crash and proceeding to strike multiple trees and mailboxes in a residential area, officials said.

Plainfield police were dispatched at about 8:52 a.m. near the intersection of 143rd Street and Van Dyke Road for a report of a hit-and-run crash. The complainant told officers that his vehicle had been rear-ended by a black Chevrolet Tahoe, according to Cmdr. Anthony Novak.

As officers were en route, they were advised by dispatch that another witness saw a Tahoe driving in the wrong lane on northbound Van Dyke Road, north of 135th Street. The witness followed the SUV and reported that it drove into a grassy area, struck multiple mailboxes and ultimately rolled over onto its side in the 24500 block of Wellesley Circle, Novak said. Dispatch advised that when the driver exited the vehicle, he appeared to be staggering.

In total, Medina hit three trees, two brick pillars and two mailboxes, Novak said.

Police found the driver, identified as Jaden E. Medina, standing outside the Chevy talking on the phone. Medina agreed to perform Standardized Field Sobriety Tests and, based on the results, was placed under arrest for driving under the influence of alcohol, Novak said.

Police's search of the vehicle also yielded a bottle of alcohol and a container of THC wax.

Medina, of the 400 block of North Park Avenue in Aurora, was booked at the Plainfield Police Department and charged with the following before he was released from custody. His arrest was included in Monday's police blotter.

• Driving under the influence of alcohol
• Driving under the influence of alcohol with BAC of 0.08 or more
• Failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident
• Leaving the scene of an accident
• Reckless driving
• Possession of adult-use cannabis by driver in passenger area of vehicle
• Damage to village property