DUI driver crashes in Arlington Heights after fleeing Des Plaines police. YouTube Tips ⓘ
Des Plaines police early Sunday, February 5, 2023 arrested an alleged DUI driver after he fled from police and crashed his Ford pickup truck on a ramp connecting I-90 WEST and Arlington Heights Road in Arlington Heights.
Des Plaines Police were on patrol in the block of 1100 South Elmhurst Road monitoring traffic when they observed a gray Ford F150 pickup truck moving westbound on Algonquin Road. The driver of the pickup truck turned left to go southbound onto Elmhurst Road. The police officers noticed the vehicle’s tires begin to screech as the driver turned and partially lost control of his vehicle. The officer then pulled onto Elmhurst Road and drove behind the Ford truck which came to a stop at the red light at Oakton Street. Just prior to the light turning green, the driver of the Ford began to spin the rear tires, and when the light turned green, the driver of the Ford pickup truck sped away at a high rate of speed. While doing so, the rear wheels were spinning and caused the rear end of the Ford to cross over the dividing lane lines, then cross into the middle lane. The driver regained control of the back of the vehicle.
Next, the Des Plaines police officer activated his overhead emergency lights in an attempt to conduct a traffic stop of the Ford pickup truck and driver. Instead of pulling over, the driver of the Ford pickup truck continued southbound on Elmhurst Road making multiple lane changes without signaling. The driver eventually entered the I-90 westbound on-ramp as the police officer followed. The officer activated his siren in attempt to alert the driver to pull over, but the driver of the Ford began accelerating once again as he enter the westbound lanes of Interstate 90. The officer then deactivated his lights and sirens and continued at the speed limit towards the next available exit ramp, and no longer in pursuit of the Ford pickup truck.
The next available exit ramp was at Arlington Heights Road. When the officer exited I-90 at Arlington Heights Road at around 2:45 a.m. Sunday, February 5, 2023, the officer observed the Ford in the exit ramp ditch, according the Des Plaines Police Department. The officer radioed in the information to Des Plaines Dispatch and provided an updated location of the vehicle. After re-activating his emergency lights, the officer verified the truck was the one he had seen on Elmhurst Road, and noted that both the front and rear driver’s side doors were open. At that time, the officer requested the local fire department to respond due to potential injuries of the parties in the vehicle. Arlington Heights Fire Department firefighters and paramedics were dispatched. Illinois State Police troopers were also assigned to the scene.
The original officer on scene spoke with one of the vehicle occupants, who he discovered standing near a rear door of the pickup truck. The vehicle occupant told the police officer that the driver — later identified as Adrian Velazquez — fled the scene after the accident. There were a total of four occupants at the vehicle at the time of the crash — including the driver who fled.
Additional Des Plaines police officers began assisting to located Velazquez, who they believed may have been injured. Using the footprints that Velazquez had left behind in the snow, the police officers observed a fresh track of footprints directly from the driver’s side front door to a row of bushes a couple of yards away. Velazquez was quickly located as he was attempting to hide. The police officers immediately detained Velazquez and noticed that his eyes were red/watery/bloodshot. According to the Des Plaines Police Department, he had a strong odor of alcohol emitting from his breath and he was having difficulty balancing while standing still. Illinois State Police troopers were also on the scene.
Arlington Heights Fire Department firefighters and paramedics arrived on scene, and treated and transported Velazquez along with one other passenger, to Northwest Community Hospital. Both patients were assessed initially to have non-life-threatening injuries. Velazquez continued to slur his speech and appeared very confused as to what was happening. Des Plaines police officers escorted the Arlington Heights Fire Department to the hospital to further investigate the accident.
Police officers remaining at the crash scene searched the Ford pickup truck prior to the arrival of the tow truck. Police officers located a green leafy substance, suspected to be cannabis, in the center console. The officers recovered the substance and also identification information for Velazquez. After that, Velazquez was run through the database when the officers were alerted that he had a valid warrant with the Cook County Sheriff’s Police Department. Police officers also learned that Velazquez did not have a valid driver’s license. His license was suspended by the Illinois Secretary of State.
Des Plaines police officer conducting the investigation of Velasquez, spoke with the passenger, who indicated that Velazquez had been driving. The passenger would not provide any further statements, and would not speak additionally with the officers.
The officers suspected that Velazquez was under the influence at that time, and asked Velazquez to provide a blood or urine sample, Velazquez denied both. Velazquez made no statements and also refused to speak with the officers. Velazquez was subsequently arrested and charged with one felony count of both Aggravated Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol/Other Drugs/Intoxicating Compounds and Aggravated Fleeing and Eluding. Velazquez was also charged with one misdemeanor count each of Driving on a Suspended Driver’s License and Reckless Driving. Velazquez was also issued the following citations: Squealing or Screeching Tires, Illegal Transportation or Possession of Alcoholic Liquor by a Driver in a Motor Vehicle, Improper Lane Usage, and the Operation of an Uninsured Motor Vehicle.
Initially, no booking photo for Adrian Velazquez was available.
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