Police: Severe DUI Car Crash Caused Debris That Hit Nearby Houses
An Alsip man was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center after driving off of the road, striking trees and landscaping, before coming to rest in a retention ditch off 135th Street Friday morning.
Photos
Updated, 1:52 p.m., Friday, Jan. 18, 2013
An Alsip man is being treated for critical injuries Friday, after he drove off the road, destroying his car and causing debris from the car to strike nearby properties, off of 135th Street, according to police.
The Orland Park Police Department was called around 3 a.m. about a single-vehicle crash on 135th Street near Partridge Lane, said Orland Park Police Commander John Keating. A 2003 Jaguar was driving west on 135th Street when it moved into the eastbound lane, before leaving the road near Partridge Lane, Keating said. The car struck several trees and landscaping, causing severe damage to the car and sending shrapnel toward nearby properties, before it came to rest in a retention ditch on the southwest corner of the intersection, Keating said.
The caller’s home was struck by debris from the vehicle, Keating said.
The car uprooted a tree that was between 16 and 18 inches in diameter, and the car's entire front end was split in half, Orland Fire Chief Ken Brucki said.
“The engine was completely extracted from the vehicle, and landed near a home in the area,” Keating said. “Investigators determined he was still in the vehicle, but he was partially ejected out of the passenger side door area.”
Only the driver was injured in the accident. No passengers were in the car at the time, Keating said. The driver was able to communicate verbally and was responding to pain, Brucki said.
Evacuating by helicopter was considered, given the initial difficulty of extricating the man from the damaged car, Brucki said. Firefighters were able to remove him in about 15 minutes, so the helicopter was canceled. Helicopters were seen hovering in the area, however those were news and traffic copters, Brucki said.
"It was a very challening extrication, because of how much he moved inside the vehicle," Brucki said. "Firefighters had to cut the roof off, and open and spread the passenger compartment to detangle him from the wreckage. They did an excellent job."
Peter Gonzales, 25, of the 11500 block of South Kolmar Avenue in Alsip, was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center with critical injuries. No update on his condition was available from the hospital around noon Friday.
“Based on the extent of vehicle damage and what was struck, it's amazing he wasn't injured more severely,” Keating said.
Gonzales was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, driving an uninsured vehicle, improper lane use, speeding over 40 mph above the posted limit and failure to wear a seat belt.
135th Street was closed for about six hours between 88th Avenue and 82nd Avenue/Partridge Lane.
Information about any prior arrests was not available Friday around noon.
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Nick Simone
12:36 pm on Friday, January 18, 2013
Great article about the odds stacked against Patch. I hope they turn this around. Ben you are doing a fantastic job at the resources that you do have. Keep it up. We just ask for more local coverage. Things that we can't find on the Southtown or other newspaper sites. Please we need this for our town or you may see some suburban sites being merged with yours. Keep things local!
http://investorplace.com/2013/01/aol-still-needs-to-patch-up-patch/
Ben Feldheim
12:53 pm on Friday, January 18, 2013
Nick, thank you for the feedback. Though I wouldn't exactly call that an article. That is an editorial. Note use of the word "probably." The writer has every right to make his judgment about the quality of sites he's seen, but I doubt he's actually taken the time to review anywhere near all of them before making his claim.
Furthermore, odds stacked against Patch? No different than the odds stacked against any new business. This editorial conveniently leaves out that the number of profitable sites are going up. We're moving in the direction of total profitability, and this man describes it like a bad thing. Are other media companies moving toward profitability and not the other direction? Not many.
Don't worry about me, and don't worry about Orland Park Patch, though thank you for the concern (I think).
As I have said before, let's have this talk next year.
And I would appreciate it if future comments were focused on the actual article.
Sue S.
4:21 pm on Thursday, January 24, 2013
Ben, thanks for responding to this misleading and confusing comment. I was wondering if the poster had clicked wrong, or if he just had an agenda. : /
Kevin
3:24 pm on Friday, January 18, 2013
this crash happened just a few doors down from me, I am surprised and happy to hear the guy lived. after seeing the crash, I tried to get a picture of it but the police wouldn't let me, they called it a crime seen. even the wheels blew off the car, peaces of it was three houses down, this guy is really lucky to live through that.
siumom
9:30 pm on Friday, January 18, 2013
I've been trying to check the update of the man's progress. The helicopters woke me up this morning, so I looked out of my bedroom window to find police and bright lights by the entrance to my subdivision. Thank God there were no passengers or people in the vicinity who could have been injured or even killed.
Nick Simone
3:39 pm on Friday, January 18, 2013
Thank you. I will do that Ben.
siumom
9:27 pm on Friday, January 18, 2013
I am extremely concerned about the accidents that have occurred on 135th Street. I am a homeowner in the subdivision where this occurred. This is not the first major accident on this road. A while back a person was killed; thus, the cross placed just off the road. We have a 40 mph zone, but I constantly witness drivers speeding. Granted, this accident occurred extremely early in the morning, but school buses travel along this road and students wait for them.
Linda
7:40 am on Saturday, January 19, 2013
You are so right. I live in this area too. Actually there have been 2 people killed on 135th and 88th Avenue in the past couple years besides multiple accidents along 135th. Something needs to be done about the speed limit. I may be wrong but I believe it is under Cook County jurisdiction and that is the problem with getting the speed limit changed. Not sure if that would have made a difference in this case though.
Merry DiGiacomo
11:20 am on Saturday, January 19, 2013
I agree with you however, I do notice that even the bus drivers DON'T obey the speed limit. I live on 85th ave and the same goes here. This is a terrible accident and so glad that the tree stopped this crazy guy from going into someone's home.
amanda gorczynski
10:59 pm on Saturday, January 19, 2013
The speeding is insane and has too stop. Hopefully people who won't slow down start loosing their licenses when the law after my little sister take effect this year"Julie's law". My little sister lost her life at this intersection because of a speeder. That cross placed just off the road is for her .......
just curious
8:41 am on Saturday, January 19, 2013
The problem isn't the street or the speed limit....the problem is drunk driving. The consequences for DUI are not strict enough. If this crash occurred just a couple hours later then there might have been kids waiting for school buses. I do not drive drunk and I resent when others endanger my life and the lives of my family and friends because they chose to drive drunk. If I had my way, every bar that over serves and then allows that person to leave should be closed permanently. Every person who drives drunk should have that monitor device in their car forever. What if everyone took a pledge not to drink and drive?
Sue S.
4:21 pm on Thursday, January 24, 2013
So right! Why are we concentrating on speed limit when the issue here is drunk driving? A drunk driver isn't going to pay attention to the speed limit. We need real consequences for DUI.
Acajudi
9:37 am on Saturday, January 19, 2013
God is great!
Nick Simone
10:01 am on Saturday, January 19, 2013
You kidding me just curious? The DUI laws are very tough. A DUI these days costs over $14,000 when it's all said and done, after attorney fees, mandatory classes etc. What needs to stop are these road blocks or DUI check points. Are we under Hitler control. This country is turning into a Police State. The other day I was driving home from a party (not drinking) just driving home and I have to stop for a roadblock. 5 officers come to my car like I am a terrorist or something. Then they seemed like they were mad when I wasn't drinking. This needs to stop. Also when your at a bar, police just come in and walk around and then wait in parking lots for you to come out. This really needs to stop.
just curious
10:10 am on Saturday, January 19, 2013
Yes I'm serious! I think roadblocks are great! When they stop me at one I thank them for the drunks they caught at that roadblock. So roadblocks are unfair because they catch people doing what they shouldn't be doing anyway? You may change your mind if it was your wife or child killed by the drunk driver. If DUI laws are strict enough, why do we hear about 2nd, 3rd and 4th DUIs?
Nick Simone
10:16 am on Saturday, January 19, 2013
Another thing that goes with this article and topic is there is a fraud in Orland Park. Every September they have a race for Erin's Aim to Change or something like that. It's about a Sandburg student who died in a drunk driving accident. What people fail to mention all the time is that she was drinking and her driver was drinking too. The driver of her car was a Student-Teacher at Sandburg. The whole foundation really never addresses that. They paint it like she was involved by a drunk driver that hit them or something. That needs to be addressed before another dollar is ever donated. She wasn't an innocent victim. She had a choice. Drank underage and got in a car with someone that had been drinking.
Ben Feldheim
11:27 am on Saturday, January 19, 2013
I'm familiar with the background of the case, as well as the fact Olmsted was riding in the car, however after speaking with the Olmsteds myself I disagree that the incident has been painted a certain way. In our past write ups, we've made clear that she was riding in the car, and not one person is quoted describing her as a victim. I have never heard a family member, or a participant in the race or fundraising, describe it in a different way.
They've taken a bad situation and used it ro raise awareness so that other people make better choices, and furthermore, they raise money that helps send students to college. I haven't heard anyone deny what happened. Maybe you think a more specific example could be made, and you have a right to think that, but this is no fraud. They are raising money both for drunk driving awareness and to help kids go to college, and I personally don't see anything disingenuous about those efforts.
Terri
2:19 pm on Saturday, January 19, 2013
Sure, she had a choice, but a minor in the company of an authority figure can't be held to the same standards in judgement and assertiveness as an adult.
just curious
10:20 am on Saturday, January 19, 2013
Alas we agree Nick. Raising awareness in order to change behavior is paramount. Everyone involved is responsible...the drunk driver, the passenger who chose to ride with them and anyone who let the drunk leave without trying to so something to stop them.
Nick Simone
10:24 am on Saturday, January 19, 2013
Just curious...thank you for your opinions but I would rather see DUI related crashes then have to go through roadblocks when probably 97% of the people going through these roadblocks are fine and are just driving. Why don't we see roadblocks in the day time? Drunks don't drive in the day time?
Sue S.
4:21 pm on Thursday, January 24, 2013
You would RATHER see DUI related crashes? That's insanity. Are you aware that drunk drivers hurt innocent people, not just themselves? Why on earth would anyone rather see a crash than a roadblock?
just curious
10:30 am on Saturday, January 19, 2013
Just when I thought we were getting somewhere ; ( How about texting and driving?
Nick Simone
6:29 pm on Saturday, January 19, 2013
Right here Ben. An article by one of your reporters
http://orlandpark.patch.com/articles/erins-aaim-race-family-and-friends-keep-memory-and-inspiration-strong
Not once does it say that Erin was drinking as well. I think that needs to be clear in future write ups of this event. That Erin was drinking, got in a car with a drunk driver and crashed.
I'm just not sure why there is a race in her honor? Or why you cover it? I could see if Erin was in a car with some friends and was hit by a drunk driver...The questions that need to be raised is why was she in a car with a Student-Teacher from Sandburg. They were partying with others. That is reckless and should not have an honor associated with it. Can you clear that up for me?
Ben Feldheim
11:07 am on Sunday, January 20, 2013
I am quite familiar with an article I edited myself, and as I clearly wrote in my last comment (if you even bothered to read it) we make mention of the fact that she was in the car. I'll admit that at the time I didn't know the full history of this case, as it was over a decade ago, but nowhere in there is anyone saying she is a victim, and to my knowledge no one has said that since either.
I cover this race because this is a cause a lot of people in town get behind. It appears there are a good number of people who simply think educating people about drunk driving and raising money for kids to go to college are good enough efforts for them.
In this comment, and in several others, you seem to take a rather judgmental stance. You have every right to do so. But let me ask you this. If it was your child, would you have the courage to involve yourself in a cause that would remind you several times a year that your child died at an early age? I don't know if I would be able to.
I drank before I turned 21. Does that mean I shouldn't write articles about efforts to stop kids from doing the same? Have you made any bad decisions in your life? If you did, does that mean you shouldn't be telling others what to do?
Ben Feldheim
7:53 pm on Saturday, January 19, 2013
And just because specific examples are not made of the driver and of Erin it doesn't mean anyone is covering it up. The information is readily available to anyone with the same Internet access that allows people to read this site. You've made your point. Comments are now on moderation. Unless anyone has something to say that is specific to this article, don't expect them to be added.
kyle adamic
11:05 am on Sunday, January 20, 2013
@Nick simone,I'm takin it that you have never worked a DUI related crash?? Why don't you come work my end of it,and then we will see what you think about roadblocks and such,Ohh BTW,they do do roadblocks in the day time,seen it many of a times,and IF u were to decide u wanted to try working it with me,let me remind you your doin it for free,even at 3am.
George Pappas
4:56 pm on Saturday, March 16, 2013
My question is why is that Jordans Restaurant still open? It has a 4:00 am license and
all that is in there are drunks who do not quit after most places close at 2:00 am. This building is located on Cook Country Forest Preserve District. It has been nothing but
trouble and many times if I had to go to work early, you would see swarms of police cars just looking for probable cause. A number of years ago a bouncer that worked there under different management was murdered. Here is a better idea for the county board, revoke the license and bulldoze the place, this is most sensible decision to make yet the useless county board continues to be useless.
Grace Hopper
5:46 pm on Monday, January 21, 2013
Terrible accident. I thought a bomb webt off. I can't believe he survived such a wreck.
I wasn't aware that AOL owned Patch.
Xtina
4:21 pm on Thursday, January 24, 2013
@Nick Simone. Roadblocks save lives. The cops were probably "mad" at you because you had a bad attitude from the get-go. I personally am happy to ever get stopped by one. If you don't like it, move to a country where they don't care, along with your whiny, complaining, negative and argumentative attitude. I pray you or a loved one doesn't get smashed up by a drunk driver that wasn't caught by the "police state" as you put it.
I think it is honorable and courageous for a family that has tragically lost a young girl, whether she was drinking or not, to turn their loss into an educational story so that it doesn't happen to others. Shame on you for attacking them and the foundation. It was tragic under any circumstance, and right away you go to a conspiracy-theory rant? I pray it isn't your daughter, or sister, or girlfriend that is hit by a drunk driver someday.
Ben, keep up the great work.