Woman Drives Drunk, Crashes Into IDOT Truck At Scene Of I-55 Fatal Crash: State's Attorney

BOLINGBROOK, IL — A Bolingbrook woman charged with DUI after crashing into an IDOT truck at the scene of a fatal crash will remain in jail after Judge Alexander McGimpsey granted the state's motion to deny pre-trial release, according to a release from the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office.

Estephany Antunez, 27, appeared in court Monday and is 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 attempted fleeing and eluding a police officer.

The State's Attorney's Office said Illinois State Police troopers were called to a three-unit fatal crash on northbound Interstate 55 at 3 a.m. June 22. At 7:30 a.m., while police were investigating the crash, authorities said Antunez drove around the lane closures set up by ISP and struck an IDOT truck which had a worker inside of the vehicle.

Antunez fled, and drove down a closed road where traffic crash reconstruction personnel were working on the scene, according to the state's attorney's office. As she fled, they said Antunez nearly struck multiple deceased bodies in the road, as well as a state trooper who was at the scene.

Police activated emergency lights and sirens and began pursuing Antunez, according to a release. Antunez failed to pull over and continued fleeing; police ultimately pulled her over after a 2-mile pursuit.

The State's Attorney's Office said 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,” DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said in a release. “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. I also thank Assistant State's Attorneys Sean Kinsella and Anna Derkacz for their work in preparing a strong case against the defendant.”

Antunez’s next court appearance is scheduled for July 21 in front of Judge Joseph Bugos.