A man and a pregnant woman were hospitalized after prosecutors say a reckless drunk driver crashed head-on into their car, causing major damage near Mundelein.
Jose A. Ramirez-Acosta, 21, of Mundelein, was charged with two counts of aggravated driving under the influence, two counts of driving under the influence of alcohol, reckless driving, driving while unlicensed, failure to reduce speed and improper lane usage.
The Mundelein Fire Department, Countryside Fire Protection District and Lake County Sheriff’s Office responded around 11:30 p.m. on September 27 to Diamond Lake Road and Elmwood Avenue in unincorporated Mundelein.
Fire crews arrived to find a two-vehicle crash with major damage and multiple injuries.
Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Dino Katris said the victims were driving and saw Ramirez-Acosta’s vehicle speeding.
Ramirez-Acosta drove into the oncoming lane and struck the victims’ vehicle head-on, Katris said.
Two victims were transported to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville.
The male victim’s ankle snapped and was protruding inward, Katris said.
The female victim, who is pregnant, was being evaluated to see if any harm was done to her unborn baby.
Katris said Ramirez-Acosta does not have a valid driver’s license and admitted to driving the vehicle.
Ramirez-Acosta blew a 0.142 during a breath alcohol concentration test, which is almost double the legal limit, Katris said.
Prosecutors filed a petition to detain Ramirez-Acosta pre-trial, calling him a danger to the safety of the community.
Lake County Judge Ari Fisz granted prosecutors’ petition to hold Ramirez-Acosta in the Lake County Jail.
Ramirez-Acosta is scheduled to appear in court again on October 16 for a status of preliminary hearing.