Authorities say a reckless, intoxicated driver fled from police and led them on a 105 mph chase that ended in a rollover crash that left an innocent victim hospitalized in Wauconda.
The Wauconda Police Department was alerted around 9:15 p.m. on June 4 by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office for a reckless driver call with the vehicle heading towards Wauconda.
Officers monitored for the vehicle and observed a vehicle matching the description, according to Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Savannah Halcomb.
An officer noted the vehicle was traveling at 75 mph in a 45 mph zone and weaving in and out of traffic.
There were multiple cars on the road and the reckless driver was driving through a construction zone.
Halcomb said the officer observed the vehicle swerve off the road and then back onto the road.
Officers attempted a traffic stop but the driver refused to pull over and eventually the pursuit reached speeds of 105 mph in a 45 mph zone.
The driver, later identified as Jackson B. Volk, 21, of Lake Barrington, was driving faster than the officers and outrunning them, Halcomb said.
Volk’s vehicle came around a bend with three to four cars ahead of it when it struck another car, causing that car to spin 360 degrees.
Halcomb said Volk’s car swerved, hit the median and rolled over. The driver of the vehicle struck by Volk’s car was transported to the hospital.
The crash occurred in the area of Route 12 and Route 59 in Wauconda.
Volk admitted to having six beers and said that he was coming from the bar, Halcomb said, adding that he had a strong odor of alcohol coming from his breath.
Officers located alcohol that was thrown out of the vehicle on the ground near Volk’s rolled-over car.
A baggie of white powdery substance, which field tested positive for cocaine and weighed 1.2 grams, was found inside the car, Halcomb said.
Volk’s vehicle insurance had also expired. “This defendant chose to operate a motor vehicle after consuming at least six drinks, and likely consuming cocaine as well. He had over an ounce of cocaine inside of the vehicle with him, as well as an alcoholic beverage,” Halcomb said.
“The defendant’s driving was so reckless that 911 calls were made reporting his driving before he even entered into Wauconda. Wauconda officers then observed him travelling at a high rate of speed and weaving through traffic,” Halcomb said.
The prosecutor said that Volk chose to travel at over twice the speed limit while other drivers were on the road and failed to stop for police.
Volk was charged with aggravated driving under the influence, aggravated fleeing to elude, possession of a controlled substance, driving under the influence of alcohol, reckless driving, speeding, unlawful possession of cannabis by a driver, operating an uninsured motor vehicle, improper traffic lane usage and illegal transportation of alcohol.
“This defendant was not capable of operating a motor vehicle competently in his state of intoxication, much less while travelling at such a high rate of speed, as he hit another vehicle while trying to flee, causing the other car to spin around on the freeway. The defendant lost control of his vehicle and hit the median, flipping his own car,” Halcomb said.
“The victim was hospitalized because of this defendant’s recklessness. The disregard this defendant has shown for other driver’s on the road, as well as for law enforcement by attempting to flee, is not able to be mitigated by conditions,” she added.
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to detain Volk pending trial and the request was granted by Lake County Judge Michael Nerheim during a detention hearing.
Volk remains held in the Lake County Jail and is scheduled to appear in court again on Wednesday for an arraignment hearing.