DUI Driver Smashed Into Sheriff's Squad Cars: Police

ROLLING MEADOWS, IL — A Park Ridge man has been accused of driving drunk when he slammed into a squad car and injured two Cook County Sheriff's deputies late Tuesday night on the Jane Addams Tollway, according to state police and the Cook County Sheriff's office. Peter Hill, 40, has been charged with felony aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol in connection with the crash.

Around 11 p.m. the deputies had pulled over another driver on the left shoulder of I-90 near Arlington Heights Road in the eastbound lanes. One was standing outside and one was inside his cruiser when a silver 2008 Acura ran off the road and smashed into the back of one of their cars, police said.

The impact sent it careening into the other squad car, trapping the deputy in the rear-ended vehicle. He needed to be cut from the destroyed cruiser.

Both deputies were taken to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge. Prosecutors said one remains hospitalized Thursday after suffering two broken ribs, a concussion, cuts to his head, numbness and pain in his neck and shoulder, the Daily Herald reported. According to WBBM-TV, fellow Cook County deputies and sheriff's office staff dropped by the hospital throughout the night Tuesday to check on their injured compatriots.

Prosecutors said Hill's blood alcohol concentration was recorded to be 0.12 after he was pulled out of the window of his Acura by rescuers. He had allegedly been driving from the Medinah Country Club and might have been looking down at his phone at the time of the crash. He suffered a broken nose and cuts to his arm in the collision, according to the Daily Herald.

Hill, who has no previous criminal convictions, was released after posting 10 percent of a $75,000 bond. The Daily Herald reported he was ordered by Judge Steven Goebel not to drive, drink or use drugs under threat of jail.

His next court date has been set for Jan. 4.

_{Top photo: Peter Hill booking photograph | Illinois State Police}