Prosecutors say a man repeatedly punched a woman and then later “recklessly and dangerously” crashed his car into a home in Woodstock where a family was sleeping inside, causing significant damage.
Matthew Zamorano, 31, of Woodstock, was charged with aggravated domestic battery causing great bodily harm, three counts of criminal damage to property, interfering with the reporting of domestic violence, reckless conduct and reckless driving.
The Woodstock Fire/Rescue District and Woodstock Police Department responded around 2:38 a.m. on May 30 to the 2300 block of Linden Drive in Woodstock for a report of a vehicle crash with entrapment and injuries.
Woodstock Fire/Rescue District Public Information Officer Alex Vucha said firefighter-paramedics arrived within minutes and found a passenger vehicle that had crashed into the first floor of an end-unit townhome.
The vehicle caused significant damage to the exterior wall of the residence, including “moderate” intrusion into the living space, Vucha said.
Zamorano, who was the driver, was able to exit the vehicle on his own prior to the fire department’s arrival and was evaluated by paramedics.
He was then transported to a local hospital with minor injuries.
Two adults and two children were asleep inside the residence when the car struck the house. “Fortunately, none of the occupants sustained injuries,” Vucha said.
Prosecutors said Zamorano became involved in a domestic dispute with a woman during the early morning hours.
He allegedly struck the woman multiple times with his fist, causing injuries that required stitches at a local hospital.
Zamorano left the residence in a “highly reckless and dangerous manner” following the attack, prosecutors said.
He allegedly crashed into a light pole before continuing on and crashing his vehicle into the occupied home.
None of the occupants of the home had any connection to the earlier domestic violence incident, prosecutors said.
The City of Woodstock Building Department was requested to the scene to evaluate the structural damage.
The residence was deemed uninhabitable until repairs can be made due to the extent of damage, Vucha said. Prosecutors said the damage was significant.
The American Red Cross was requested to assist the displaced family with temporary lodging and other immediate needs.
Firefighters remained on the scene for approximately two hours while crews secured utilities, evaluated the building, assisted the occupants and helped facilitate the removal of the vehicle from the structure.
Zamorano was arrested, transported to the McHenry County Jail and appeared in Initial Appearance Court on Monday.
The McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to detain Zamorano pending trial, arguing he poses a danger to others. McHenry County Judge Michael Feetterer granted the request.
“This case involves an alarming escalation of violence and recklessness,” McHenry County State’s Attorney Freese said.
“The defendant allegedly inflicted serious injuries on a woman before engaging in conduct that endangered an entirely unrelated family sleeping in their home. The consequences of these actions could have been catastrophic,” Freese said.
“We are grateful no lives were lost and that the Court recognized the significant threat to public safety by ordering the defendant detained pending trial,” the state’s attorney added.
Zamorano is scheduled to appear in court again on Friday.