A 28-year-old Gary man faces multiple charges after fleeing Winfield police officers at speeds of 99 mph, crashing his car, then being airlifted to a Chicago hospital for advanced medical care, police said.
The driver, Daniel Alexander Sanchez, was reportedly spotted by police in his vehicle shortly before 10 p.m. Friday, turning into oncoming traffic and driving over a median in the area of Randolph Place and Randolph Street.
Winfield Police Officer Carmen Monchilovich, later joined by two other officers in the pursuit, attempted to stop the driver, who was later identified as Sanchez.
Sanchez failed to stop and instead continued to flee, disregarding a traffic light and eventually rolling his car several times before coming to rest in a grassy field near Wendy’s, in the 7800 block of 109th Avenue, police said.
Upon approach of the vehicle, officers located Sanchez, who was ejected through the sunroof and found unconscious and smelling of alcohol.
Sanchez was transported to the University of Chicago via UCAN medical helicopter. Due to the seriousness of the driver’s injuries and his being unconscious, no field sobriety test could be conducted, police said
A review of the vehicle’s black box showed Sanchez was traveling at 99 mph in a clearly posted 20 mph speed zone, police said.
A search warrant was obtained through a request to Chicago Police and a blood sample from Sanchez was obtained through an order from a Cook County Circuit Court judge.
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It was determined from the blood samples obtained that Sanchez’s blood alcohol content (BAC) was 0.158% or nearly twice the legal limit of 0.08%, police said.
Sanchez has been charged with two counts of resisting law enforcement using a vehicle, six counts of operating a vehicle while intoxicated, driving while suspended, operating a motor vehicle without ever receiving a license, and reckless driving, records show.
Police said Sanchez, who has never been issued a driver’s license, has several prior convictions for driving while suspended in Indiana, including on April 22 of this year and on May 17, 2023. He also had a prior conviction for operating while intoxicated through a court in Wisconsin on Feb. 18, 2019.
Deborah Laverty is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.