Authorities in Indiana say deputies pursued a Grayslake woman who was traveling “well over” 110 mph with a young child in her car while she was intoxicated.
An officer with the Lake County, Indiana Sheriff’s Department was traveling northbound on Interstate 65 from Route 30 around 4 p.m. Tuesday.
Traffic stopped due to a fatal crash, which was being investigated by the Indiana State Police.
The crash was on northbound Interstate 65 just south of the Ridge Road exit in Hobart.
All lanes of traffic were stopped and the Lake County police officer was also stopped in the far left lane of traffic, the sheriff’s department said.
The officer observed a white Chevrolet passenger car speed past him on the shoulder.
The vehicle was traveling so fast it struck a piece of metal, kicking it into the air. The metal struck the police officer’s patrol unit.
The police officer activated his emergency lights and sirens, drove onto the shoulder and pursued the reckless driver.
Sheriff’s officials said the car was traveling at well over 110 miles per hour at times.
The car eventually stopped just south of where emergency workers were gathered at the fatal crash.
The Lake County police officer exited his vehicle and approached the driver of the Chevrolet. He observed a small child sitting in the rear passenger seat.
The officer ordered the driver to get out of the car several times but she refused to comply, sheriff’s officials said.
The driver had to be pulled from the vehicle and resisted attempts to place her in handcuffs.
A trooper with the Indiana State Patrol assisted in securing the suspect. A 4-year-old boy was taken out of the car.
Child Protective Services was notified and the boy was placed with his grandmother.
Sheriff’s officials said an open can containing an alcoholic beverage was found in the cup holder of the car.
The driver was identified as Ana Lidia Perez, 48, of Grayslake.
Perez was transported by ambulance to an area hospital for evaluation and treatment and later taken into custody at the Lake County Jail.
Perez faces charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated, reckless driving and endangering the life of a person less than 18 years old.