Man Faces DUI In Hit-And-Run In Which Passenger Falls Out Of Car: Cops

BEACH PARK, IL — A 43-year-old man was seriously injured when he fell out of the back seat of a car after a collision that happened in Beach Park Friday afternoon.

Deputies with the Lake County Sheriff's Office responded to the collision, which happened at North and West Mawman avenues in Beach Park, at about 3:30 p.m. on Friday and found out that four of the five people in the car that caused the head-on crash had fled the scene, according to a news release from the sheriff's office.

The collision happened when a Mitsubishi Outlander, driven by Gilberto Santiago, Jr., 70, of the 400 block of East Willow Drive in Round Lake Park, was headed south on North Avenue and veered into the northbound lane of traffic.

The Outlander collided with a northbound Nissan Versa, which was driven by a 70-year-old Zion woman.

The impact of the crash caused a rear door to open and a back seat passenger, a 43-year-old Zion man, fell out of the car. He was taken to an area hospital with serious injuries, according to a news release.

Deputies searched for Santiago, who police say fled. Officers, a K9 team and a drone were used to search for Santiago, who was located and taken into custody. Police also located one other passenger who fled the scene, but two others have not yet been located, police said.

Santiago has been charged with aggravated driving under the influence, driving while license revoked, aggravated driving while under influence while driving on a revoked license, unlawful possession of a controlled substance and leaving the scene of an accident with injuries.