DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin announced that Judge Alexander McGimpsey has granted the State’s motion to deny pre-trial release for a Bolingbrook woman accused of DUI and crashing into an Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) truck that was on the scene of a fatal car crash investigation Sunday morning. 27-year old Estephany Antunez (d.o.b. 6/23/1998) of the 200 block of Gettysburg Drive, appeared at First Appearance Court this morning charged with one count of Passing an Emergency Vehicle Causing Injury/Death (Class 4 Felony) and ten Misdemeanor and petty traffic offenses including DUI, Leaving the Scene of an Accident Involving Damage to an Attended Vehicle, Speeding and Attempt Fleeing and Eluding a Police Officer.
At approximately 3:00 a.m. on Sunday, , Illinois State Police (ISP) troopers were dispatched to a three-unit fatal crash on I-55 northbound, north of I-355. It is alleged that at approximately 7:30 a.m., while ISP was investigating the crash, Antunez drove around the lane closures set up by ISP and struck an IDOT truck with a worker inside of the vehicle. It is alleged that after Antunez struck the truck, she fled the scene, driving down a closed roadway where traffic crash reconstruction personnel were working on the scene. It is further alleged that as Antunez fled the scene, she nearly struck multiple deceased bodies in the roadway and an ISP Trooper. It is alleged that as Antunez fled the scene, an ISP Trooper activated his emergency lights and sirens and initiated pursuit. It is further alleged that Antunez failed to pull over and continued fleeing the trooper. The ISP trooper ultimately pulled Antunez over following a two-mile pursuit. It is alleged that Antunez’s BAC was .173. She was arrested at that time. The driver of the IDOT truck was transferred to a local hospital with minor injuries.
“Illinois law requires that when approaching a stationary emergency vehicle with activated emergency lights, a driver must reduce speed, proceed with due caution and be prepared to stop,” Berlin said. “The allegation that Ms. Antunez ignored lane closures set up by the Illinois State Police as they were investigating a fatal crash, and crashed her car into an IDOT truck, injuring the occupant, are shocking. To make matters worse, it is alleged that instead of stopping, as required by law, Ms. Antunez fled the scene, ignored the flashing police lights behind her and led the police on a brief pursuit, all while her BAC was .173, more than twice the legal limit. Thankfully, the victim in this case was not seriously injured, or worse. With the holiday weekend approaching, I urge everyone to please drive responsibly and follow the rules of the road. I thank the Illinois State Police for their efforts in the quick apprehension of the defendant in this case and for their ongoing efforts in keeping our expressways safe.”…