A North Chicago police canine successfully tracked down a driver and passenger who both fled the scene of a crash that left another person injured in North Chicago.
The North Chicago Police Department and North Chicago Fire Department responded last Friday to Route 41 and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive for a call of a traffic accident with injuries.
Prosecutors said two witnesses observed the crash and told police that a Mazda SUV entered the intersection at approximately 40 mph.
The Mazda had gone through the red light and hit a Dodge Journey.
The driver of the Mazda and a passenger fled the scene on foot.
Prosecutors said the driver of the Dodge was immediately transported to the hospital with head, neck and back pain.
North Chicago Police Officer Donald Florance and Canine Six responded to the scene to assist, city officials said.
Six was deployed to conduct a track, resulting in both subjects being located.
Officers took the two into custody without further incident. The passenger who fled was released from custody.
The offending driver, identified as Jose M. Aleman-Alfaro, was exhibiting signs of impairment.
He later admitted to consuming alcohol and a blood alcohol reading showed he had a 0.162, prosecutors said.
Aleman-Alfaro did not have a driver’s license.
He was charged with leaving the scene of an injury accident, two counts of driving under the influence, failure to reduce speed and driving without a license.
Lake County Judge Bolling Haxall allowed Aleman-Alfaro to be released from custody on a $50,000 personal recognizance bond.