A Lisle man has been charged with drunken driving after he reportedly crashed his vehicle into a squad car and injured a police sergeant in the 400 block of Desplaines Avenue at about 12:08 a.m. on Dec. 12.
Sgt. Mike Harrison was driving northbound on Desplaines Avenue when a Ford sedan turned left, going east on Madison, and reportedly struck the side of the squad car. Police Chief Thomas Aftanas said Harrison suffered minor injuries and was transported to Loyola University Medical Center.
“He was injured, he’s a little banged up and pretty sore but nothing major, thank god,” Aftanas said. “He’s out of work for an unknown period of time.”
Aftanas said the squad car, a Ford Crown Victoria, suffered extensive damage and that he was waiting to hear from the insurance company “if they’re going to try and repair it or if it’s going to be totaled.”
The 40-year-old driver of the other vehicle told police he was driving from a Randolph Street bar, where he consumed three vodka Redbull drinks and played darts. He said he was on his way to a Madison Street tavern to pick up a pizza before heading home. That’s when he allegedly attempted to make a left turn onto eastbound Madison Street, failed to yield and hit the squad car. He was transported to Rush Oak Park Hospital for treatment.
The Lisle man reportedly told police that he thought he had a green arrow that allowed him to turn at the intersection. Aftanas said there is no arrow at that intersection.
The Lisle man had “little to no” recollection of the accident and was unaware that he hit a squad car, according to the report. He told police that “perhaps” he was impaired by alcohol and was unable to safely operate a motor vehicle.
He was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, failure to reduce speed to avoid accident, failure to yield- left turn, and received an ordinance violation for damaging village property.
“If you’ve been drinking, definitely taxi, Uber, have a friend drive or walk home,” Aftanas said.
