Deputies arrested a woman who was “enraged and out of control” after she allegedly intentionally hit a worker with her car in a road construction zone on Route 59 near Lake Villa.
A Lake County sheriff’s deputy was stopped in construction traffic on Route 59 near Town Line Road in unincorporated Lake Villa around 3 p.m. Saturday.
The Illinois Department of Transportation is currently resurfacing Route 59 from Route 173 to Highwoods Drive in the Antioch and Lake Villa area.
The project began on June 30 and also includes pedestrian ramp improvements, pavement patching, pavement markings and other work. The project is expected to be complete by the end of November.
Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli said a member of the construction crew’s traffic control group approached the deputy.
The worker reported that a member of their team was just intentionally struck by a Jeep and the driver was fleeing.
The sheriff’s deputy immediately began searching for the Jeep, Covelli said.
The deputy located the Jeep driving around construction equipment and traveling southbound in the northbound lane of traffic.
The deputy was able to stop the driver before she committed more harm, Covelli said.
Covelli said the driver was identified as Gretchen Glauser, 58, of Antioch, who was enraged and out of control.
Glauser refused the deputy’s instructions to turn her car off and exit the vehicle.
The deputy opened her door and assisted her out of the Jeep before placing her under arrest.
Covelli said it was learned that Glauser had nearly struck a construction worker in the construction zone and disregarded the traffic controller’s instructions.
Glauser nearly struck another worker and stopped her car just prior to striking that worker.
She ordered the construction worker to move and threatened to kill the worker, Covelli said.
Covelli said Glauser struck the worker with her car, which did not result in serious injuries to the worker.
Glauser drove around the worker and was recklessly driving the wrong way when she was stopped by the sheriff’s deputy, Covelli said.
She was charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, aggravated assault with a motor vehicle, reckless driving and issued numerous traffic citations.
Glauser was transported to the Lake County Jail and appeared in First Appearance Court on Sunday morning.
In court, Glauser abruptly spoke out at the judge and complained she could not hear and also said she could not see because she had been sprayed with an entire can of bear repellent.
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to detain her pending trial and a detention hearing was held on Tuesday afternoon. Lake County Judge Michael Nerheim granted the petition to detain.