Serious 2-Car Crash Lands Homewood Driver in Trouble: Blotter

Serious Crash Leads to Arrest

Venitia L. Hampton, 54, of the 18800 block of South Morgan, Homewood, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, DUI with a blood-alcohol level greater than 0.08, failing to reduce speed to avoid a crash and driving without insurance, according to an Oak Forest police report.

Police were called to a crash at about at about 1:03 a.m. in the 5800 block of 147th Street, the report states. Hampton was one of the drivers involved in the accident. Her car reportedly sustained heavy front-end damage. Four people were in the second vehicle, a 2005 Chevy Astro Van. It had suffered serious rear-end damage.

An officer reported smelling a strong odor of alcohol on Hampton's breath, the report states. She spoke with somewhat slurred speech.

Hampton is due on Sept. 9 in Bridgeview court.

Trouble After Crash

Felix J. Gomez, 39, of the 16300 block of Parliament Avenue, Tinley Park, was charged with driving under the influence, improper lane use, driving without insurance and driving with a suspended license, according to a report.

Cops responded to a crash at about 6:39 p.m. in the 6100 block of 159th Street involving two cars, the report states. One car had sideswiped the other while approaching from the rear. Police determined that it was Gomez's car that had drifted into the other lane.

An officer could smell alcohol on Gomez's breath, the report states. He told the cop that he had a couple of beers that day. He was asked to take tests for sobriety, after which he was arrested. Gomez later refused to take a breath test.

Gomez is due on Sept. 9 in Bridgeview court.

Police blotter information is provided by the Oak Forest Police Department. Charges are not evidence of guilt. They are a record of police actions taken on a given day, and persons charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court. If you or a family member are charged or cited and the case is subsequently adjudicated, we encourage you to notify the editor. We will verify and report the outcome.