Semi Hit By New Lenox Drunk Driver Who Ran Stop Sign: Joliet Police

JOLIET — A 21-year-old New Lenox pickup truck driver who Joliet police say had several open containers of alcohol in his truck is no longer in St. Joe's Hospital. Joliet police indicated that one of his passengers suffered a broken leg during Saturday night's wreck near the CenterPoint Intermodal Center at Schweitzer Road and Centerpoint Way.

According to Joliet police, New Lenox resident Giaden McClure was arrested at St. Joe's hospital and released from custody on a notice to appear in the Will County Courthouse to answer to charges of aggravated DUI, DUI, aggravated reckless driving and reckless driving.

McClure injured himself and his front seat passenger on Saturday night when he blew through a stop sign and collided with a semi, Joliet police say.

Police spokesman Dwayne English said the crash with injuries happened around 10:30 p.m. The officers responded to Schweitzer Road and Centerpoint Way and later determined that McClure was driving a Chevrolet 2500 truck eastbound on Schweitzer Road approaching the intersection at Centerpoint Way at a high rate of speed.

It is believed that McClure disobeyed the stop sign and struck the trailer of a Mack semi-truck driven by a 65-year-old man from Lowell, Indiana, who was turning left toward south Centerpoint Way from westbound Schweitzer, English pointed out.

Joliet police said they found open containers of alcohol in McClure’s vehicle, and he displayed behaviors consistent with possible alcohol impairment.

McClure and a passenger were taken by Joliet Fire Department ambulance to St. Joseph Medical Center. The passenger suffered a broken leg in the crash.

McClure was placed into custody at the hospital. He was also cited for Disobeyed Stop Sign and Illegal Transportation of Alcohol by Driver, English noted.

An additional passenger of McClure’s vehicle and the driver of the semi were uninjured in the crash, according to the press release. Joliet police said they do not have a mugshot of McClure available since he was not taken to the police station for booking procedures.