
A Waukegan woman is in the hospital with significant injuries after she fled from police during a traffic stop and crashed into a tree in Zion Sunday morning.
A Lake County sheriff’s deputy conducted a traffic stop on a 2013 BMW 3-Series on Route 173 near Joanna Avenue in Zion around 3 a.m. Sunday.
The deputy conducted the traffic stop after noticing the driver traveling at a speed of 81 mph in a 40 mph zone, according to Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli.
The sheriff’s deputy spoke to the driver, identified as Vanessa Pimentel, 27, of the 100 block of South Butrick Street in Waukegan.
While speaking to Pimentel, she put the car in drive and fled eastbound on Route 173 from the traffic stop at a high rate of speed, Covelli said.
The sheriff’s deputy did not pursue Pimentel but the deputy drove eastbound on Route 173 in the direction that the woman fled.
The sheriff’s deputy found the BMW had crashed and sustained significant damage at Route 173 and Gilboa Avenue in Zion.
Covelli said it appeared that Pimentel failed to navigate the curve in the roadway, went off the road and struck a tree.
Sheriff’s deputies determined Pimentel was driving under the influence of alcohol and she also was driving with a revoked driver’s license.
She was transported to an area hospital with significant injuries, Covelli said.
Pimentel was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, aggravated speeding, fleeing and eluding and driving while license revoked.
The Zion Police Department responded to the scene of the crash and requested the assistance of the Lake County Major Crash Assistance Team (MCAT) due to Pimentel’s injuries.
Pimentel remains hospitalized for her injuries sustained in the crash.
Covelli said it is likely charges will be upgraded by the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office at a later time.