Drunken Driver Blew Red Light, Drove Under Semi: JPD

JOLIET ? Thursday night's crash involving a semi-trailer, filmed by Joliet Patch from the scene on Houbolt Road and McDonough Street, has resulted in numerous criminal charges for the seriously injured 45-year-old Joliet motorist Tara Marinez, Joliet police announced Friday morning.

Marinez, who is now at Loyola University Medical Center for treatment of her injuries, was arrested on charges of aggravated DUI, DUI, DUI ? BAC over .08 and violation of pre-trial release. Three other people were in the vehicle at the time of the crash, police said. Marinez's passengers, as well as the driver of the semi, were not injured.

Marinez was also arrested by Joliet police in November after Joliet police said she crashed into a light pole on Plainfield Road. The Joliet Patch story on that case is at the bottom of this story.

Joliet police spokesman Dwayne English said at 6:33 p.m. on Thursday, officers responded to Houbolt Road and McDonough Street for a crash with injuries.

According to police, a preliminary investigation of the crash determined that Marinez was driving a Hyundai Sonata northbound on Houbolt Road approaching McDonough Street. Police believe Marinez disregarded a red light and entered the intersection, striking the trailer of a Freightliner semi-truck driven by a 58-year-old Bolingbrook man who was turning left onto eastbound McDonough Street from southbound Houbolt Road.

The Sonata came to rest stuck under the trailer.

Marinez was extricated from the vehicle by the Joliet Fire Department and rushed to St Joseph Medical Center with serious, but non-life-threatening injuries. She was released on a notice to appear due for further treatment of her injuries.

At St. Joe's, police determined that Marinez held a blood alcohol content of approximately three times the legal limit, and she was placed into custody for DUI. She was later transferred to Loyola, police said.

Officers learned that Marinez?s driver?s license was suspended due to a previous DUI charge. It was also determined that Marinez was under conditions of pre-trial release from a previous aggravated battery to a peace officer charge.

Marinez was also cited for driving while license suspended, disobeying a traffic control device, and failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident.

Joliet Patch covered Marinez's previous arrest by the Joliet police in November. You can read that story below.

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