70-80 MPH In Joliet's West Side Neighborhood, Motorist May Lose His 2018 Kia Rio: Forfeiture

JOLIET, IL — The Will County State's Attorney's Office has filed a civil forfeiture complaint against a Rockdale resident accused of reaching speeds of 70 to 80 mph driving through a Joliet neighborhood trying to escape the Joliet police officers in pursuit — only to crash into a fence in the 100 block of South Midland Avenue and injure himself, court files show.

The State's Attorney's Office has asked Will County's judges to authorize them to seize the 2018 Kia Rio belonging to Aaron Gonzalez of Rockdale's Emery Street in connection with the offense of aggravated fleeing and eluding the police.

According to the complaint, on Aug. 26, Officers Killian, Fitzgerald and Santiago of the Joliet police force were near Marion and Center Streets when they saw the 2018 Kia Rio disregard the stop light at the intersection. The officers reportedly turned on their flashing lights and sirens, but the motorist accelerated his car at a higher rate of speed.

According to court documents, the officers saw the Kia disobey the traffic signals at Marion and Hunter Street, Marion and Raynor and later at Marion and Reedwood and Marion and Reed Streets. Joliet police estimated the vehicle's speed at 70 to 80 mph, while the posted speed limit in the neighborhood is 25 mph, prosecutors outlined.

After seeing the car weaving in and out of traffic, the Rio crashed into a fence in the 100 block of South Midland Avenue and the driver, Aaron Gonzalez, was found lying beside the driver's door, moaning in pain and holding his left leg, court documents indicate.

Joliet's Fire Department took Gonzalez to the hospital, and he informed Officer Killian that he was driving the Kia "and he was scared," court records show.

After Gonzalez was released from the hospital, he was later released from the Joliet police station after being given traffic citations for aggravated fleeing and eluding.