Glencoe Man Charged With Felony DUI After Rear-End Crash in Wilmette

WILMETTE, IL — Prosecutors charged a Glencoe man with aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol after he crashed into another motorist in Wilmette.

A 53-year-old man faces a felony charge due to having at least two previous DUI convictions, authorities said. He is also charged with misdemeanor DUI and issued citations for illegal transportation of an open container of alcohol and failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident.

Shortly 7:30 p.m., officers dispatched to a report of a traffic crash at Hibbard Road and Lake Avenue determined that the man had rear-ended a driver stopped at a red light, according to Cook County Assistant State's Attorney Jenna Reinhardt.

Police said the man smelled like alcohol as he slurred his speech and swayed on his feet, Reinhardt said Monday at his initial court appearance.

The Glencoe resident "admitted to drinking one beer" but refused any further field sobriety testing after a test of his eyesight indicated he was impaired, according to the prosecutor.

After police took him into custody, Reinhardt said they found an open bottle of whiskey wrapped in a t-shirt and stashed in the pocket behind the driver's side seat. Officers also found a travel mug with an unknown liquid inside.

The man's most recent DUI conviction was in 2004, according to the prosecutor. He received one year supervision, which was revoked.

Cook County Associate Judge Anthony Calabrese ordered the man to pay the $2,500 cash portion of his bond to secure his pretrial release.

The crash took place at a busy intersection in the middle of the evening under "very dangerous circumstances," the judge said, with the allegations indicating an "absolute danger to the community."

Editor's note: This story was updated to remove the name of the arrestee after he pleaded guilty in June 2023 to the reduced charge of reckless driving in exchange for a sentence of two years of probation.