Motorcyclist In Critical Condition, Joliet Police Make DUI Arrest On Woodruff Road

JOLIET, IL — The Joliet police said 50-year-old resident Jorge Martinez-Lopez was taken to the Will County Jail on two counts of aggravated DUI and one count of DUI BAC .08 or more following a weekend crash that left a 58-year-old motorcyclist in critical condition.

According to police spokesman Dwayne English, at 12:54 a.m. July 5, officers found a traffic crash with injuries involving a motorcycle at Woodruff Road and Charlesworth Avenue.

According to police, an Isuzu Ascender driven by Martinez-Lopez was westbound on Woodruff Road approaching Charlesworth Avenue when he initiated a left turn toward southbound Charlesworth Avenue into a path of a Suzuki GSXR750 driven by a 58-year-old Joliet man going east on Woodruff Road.

The motorcycle collided into the rear passenger side of the turning Isuzu, and the motorcycle’s driver was thrown to the ground. The operator of the motorcycle was taken to Silver Cross Hospital by the Joliet Fire Department with critical injuries. Martinez-Lopez was not injured in the crash, English said.

The arrest report noted that Martinez-Lopez indicated to the officers that he had consumed alcohol prior to driving and showed signs of possible alcohol impairment, when observed by the officers. Martinez-Lopez was placed into custody upon completion of field sobriety tests. Martinez-Lopez was also cited for no valid driver's license and driving too fast for conditions, and his vehicle was towed from the scene.

The roadway was closed for a period of time while Joliet Police traffic investigators reconstructed the crash scene.