A 23-year-old man was charged with driving under the influence after he struck a police squad car in Harvard, causing himself and the officer to be transported to the hospital for evaluation.
McHenry County Sheriff’s Deputy Kevin Byrnes said the sheriff’s office responded to the intersection of Route 14 and Blackman Street in Harvard around 10:50 p.m. Saturday to assist with a traffic crash.
The incident involved a 2004 Pontiac GTO and a 2021 Ford Police Explorer.
A Harvard police officer was originally dispatched to the area for a complaint of an intoxicated man who began driving a Pontiac despite witnesses attempting to stop him from driving, Byrnes said.
The Pontiac, driven by David P. Stuart, 23, of Kanesville, was driving southbound on Route 14 approaching Blackman Street.
The police car was traveling northbound on Route 14 in the center turn lane attempting to turn left onto Blackman Street.
The officer started to turn when the Pontiac drove over the hill at a high rate of speed, causing the officer to correct back to the center turn lane, Byrnes said.
The Pontiac crossed into the center turn lane and crashed into the police car.
Both Stuart and the officer were transported to Mercy Hospital in Harvard to be evaluated, Byrnes said.
Stuart was arrested by the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office and issued a notice to appear for driving under the influence of alcohol and improper lane usage.
He is scheduled to appear in court on January 18.