A man who was injured after running his vehicle into a tree has been criminally charged, according to local authorities. The Illinois resident is believed to have been driving under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident. He was arrested for drunk driving but has since posted bond and been released. A court date is pending.
First responders indicate the 40-year-old man was driving his pickup truck on Interstate 80, attempting to exit onto Illinois 71, when he lost control of his vehicle. The vehicle left the road and entered a ditch, where it was spun around, stopping when the vehicle hit a roadside tree. A local fire department responded to the accident and had to extricate the driver from the wreck. The man was taken to a local hospital by ambulance, where he was treated and released into police custody.
The man has been charged with drunk driving, improper lane change and driving too fast for the road conditions. He was taken to a local jail, but posted bond and was released from custody. There is no word as of this writing whether a court date has yet been set.
Illinois is very tough on drunk driving charges, and the courts tend to favor stringent punishment for those found guilty of driving under the influence. It may benefit the accused man to have a complete understanding of his rights both during the roadside investigation and during court proceedings. A failure on the part of the state to observe his rights and proper conduct throughout the arrest process could result in a mitigated fine or having the case thrown out entirely.
Source: Morris Daily Herald, “DUI charge leveled after crash at Illinois 71/I-80 in Morris, Illinois,” May 7, 2013