Arlington Heights Police Officer Killed by Drunk Driver

Arlington Heights Police Officer Alan J. Vargo was directing traffic at the scene of an accident at Arlington Heights Road and Olive Street at about 2 a.m. July 18, 1976, when an intoxicated driver hit and fatally injured him. Timothy R. Draut dodged a police blockade, struck Vargo and dragged him 40 feet before stopping.

Draut, a 23 year-old Arlington Heights resident at the time, had been drinking at a wedding before he hit Officer Vargo. The 24 year-old police officer died a few hours later at Northwest Community Hospital.

According to the Officer Down Memorial Website Page for Officer Vargo, Timothy Draut was arrested again for drunk driving in 1982