A Lake County sheriff’s deputy blocking traffic at the scene of a fatal crash in Volo was struck by a DUI driver who then fled the scene, leaving the deputy injured on the ground.
Chris L. Miller, 65, of the 29000 block of North Fairfield Road in unincorporated Mundelein, was charged with two counts of aggravated driving under the influence, two counts of driving under the influence of alcohol, leaving the scene of an accident involving injury, failure to render aid following an accident, improper lane usage, failure to report an accident, failure to reduce speed and operating an uninsured vehicle.
Crash investigators were conducting their investigation of a three-vehicle crash that left an 82-year-old man dead and a 20-year-old man seriously injured at Route 12 and Volo Village Road in Volo around 5:50 p.m. Monday.
A Lake County Sheriff’s Auxiliary Deputy was blocking the southbound lanes of Route 12 at Molidor Road.
“To alert drivers that the roadway was closed there were eight traffic cones, numerous flares, and a marked squad car with its emergency lights activated parked perpendicular across the lanes of traffic,” Lake County Sheriff Spokesman Sgt. Christopher Covelli said.
Miller, who was driving a 2016 Ford pickup truck, traveled southbound on Route 12 around 7 p.m. and disregarded the flares, traffic cones, and emergency lights when he struck the squad car, Covelli said.
The collision caused the squad car to strike the deputy, who was standing outside of the squad car. The deputy suffered serious leg injuries and was transported by ambulance to an area hospital, Covelli said.
Miller fled in his vehicle southbound from the scene. His truck became disabled due to the damage near Fox Lake Road and Route 12 and was taken into custody.
“While I’m thankful our auxiliary deputy wasn’t killed or critically injured, I am very disappointed a drunk driver crashed into a scene we were working to keep secure, and injured one of our personnel,” Sheriff John Idleburg said.
“Then, rather than do the right thing and stop to see if the auxiliary deputy was okay, he fled. Driving under the influence is unacceptable to begin with, crashing into an emergency vehicle while intoxicated, then fleeing, is downright inexcusable,” Idleburg added.
Miller remains held in the Lake County Jail pending an initial court hearing.