Police: Drunk Driver Hits Squad Car, Injures Officer

An officer was injured during an early-morning traffic stop Sunday when a driver crashed into his stopped squad car, pushing it into the officer, police said.

According to a press release, a officer was conducting the traffic stop at 6:38 a.m. about a quarter-mile north of Taylor Road on northbound Route 53 when a Pontiac Grand Prix, also heading north on Route 53, struck the squad car.

The crash forced the squad car into the officer and the previously stopped vehicle.

The officer was transported to in Downers Grove, where he was treated and released, police said.

Sgt. Brant Hromadka said he could not offer specifics on the officer’s injuries.

“I can say there will be a lot of time off from work,” Hromadka said.

The driver of the Grand Prix, 20-year-old Eduardo Juarez-Zavala of Bolingbrook, and the 57-year-old driver of the vehicle that had been stopped were transported to Silver Cross Hospital in Joliet, according to police. Both men were treated and released, Hromadka said.

Juarez-Zavala is charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, improper lane usage, failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, failure to wear a seat belt and failure to yield to an emergency vehicle, police said.

Hromadka said northbound Route 53 was closed for about three-and-a-half hours following the crash.