Police arrested a man who allegedly accelerated his car through a crowded street during a children’s triathlon in Wauconda Saturday morning, officials said.
The Wauconda Park District was hosting its annual children’s triathlon race throughout the Village of Wauconda.
The Wauconda Police Department had officers blocking off the intersection of Garland Road and Bonner Road around 8:37 a.m. Saturday.
The driver of a custom 2008 Ford Mustang GT pulled up to the intersection, according to police officials.
He then accelerated through the posted barricades and past a marked police squad that had its emergency lights activated.
A uniformed police officer yelled for the driver to stop but he continued driving.
Police said the Ford traveled southbound on Garland Road weaving around traffic cones at a high rate of speed.
There were children in the southbound lanes of Garland Road actively participating in the triathlon at the time.
The driver sped past another uniformed officer and was eventually stopped by other officers at Garland Road and Winding Lane.
The driver, Jack A. Hazen, 41, of Wauconda, was taken into custody without further incident.
“Fortunately, due to the quick actions of Wauconda Police personnel, no participants were injured,” Wauconda Police Chief David Wermes said.
Hazen is charged with aggravated assault with a motor vehicle, a Class 4 felony, and reckless driving, a Class A misdemeanor.
The Wauconda Police Department said they seized Hazen’s Ford due to his reckless actions.