Intoxicated Joliet Driver with Toddlers in Car Fled from Traffic Crash: Police

JOLIET, IL — Two children, ages 1 and 3, were inside the vehicle of an allegedly intoxicated 23-year-old Joliet man when he fled from a car crash.

Officers responded to William and Ingalls for two vehicles that had been struck by a hit-and-run driver Tuesday evening, according to Joliet Deputy Police Chief Ed Gregory. While en route to the scene, an officer learned the hit-and-run driver was at the Bel-Air Motel at 1103 Plainfield Road.

Witnesses said Santos J. Herrera, of the 500 block of Florence, was heading westbound on Ingalls and swerving when he crossed into the traffic lane of an eastbound Volkswagen Beetle driven by a Rockdale woman, who attempted to swerve out of Herrera’s path but was struck, Gregory said. As Herrera tried to take off, he allegedly struck a 2007 Toyota.

Police believe Herrera took the children into the motel with him prior to being arrested, Gregory said. The children were unharmed and the mother responded to the scene to get the kids.

Herrera failed a field sobriety test, Gregory said, and was arrested on the scene.

photo via the Will County Sheriff's Office