Two people were hospitalized, one with serious injuries, after a drunk driver crashed an SUV at a high rate of speed into a tree and a house in Beach Park, authorities said.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office and Beach Park Fire Department responded around 11:30 p.m. Sunday to the area of Lewis Avenue and West Oak Drive in Beach Park for a report of a vehicle crash with injuries.
Emergency crews arrived and found the crash had occurred in the 11500 block of West Oak Drive on the corner of Lewis Avenue.
Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli said the crash initially appeared to involve a person who was ejected from the vehicle based on the 911 caller’s account.
It was later determined that no one had been ejected from the vehicle.
A preliminary investigation shows the driver of a Nissan sedan, identified as Axel Aleman-Archibol, 25, of Zion, was traveling at a high rate of speed on Lewis Avenue near West Oak Drive, Covelli said.
Aleman-Archibol lost control of his vehicle and drove off the roadway at West Oak Drive.
The Nissan struck the side of a home and hit a tree and a fence in the backyard.
Covelli said the car came to rest approximately 175 feet into the backyard of the home on West Oak Drive.
A passenger in the vehicle, a 25-year-old man of Zion, exited the vehicle and collapsed in the backyard.
He was transported to an area hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
Aleman-Archibol initially exited the car and ran but stopped after running approximately 20 yards, Covelli said.
The homeowner whose residence was struck waited until sheriff’s deputies arrived to ensure the driver did not attempt to flee from the scene.
Aleman-Archibol was found to be driving under the influence of alcohol, Covelli said.
He was transported to an area hospital for non-life-threatening injuries and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol.