Driver Allegedly Opening Beer Runs Stop Sign, Hits Ill. Deputy's Cruiser

An Illinois sheriff's deputy was seriously injured when a man accused of running a stop sign while opening a beer crashed into her cruiser over the weekend.

The incident happened shortly after 6 p.m. Sunday when Lake County sheriff's deputy responded to a battery in progress near Beach Park, the Lake County News-Sun reports. While pursuing a fleeing suspect, two deputies reached an intersection as a pickup truck failed to stop at a stop sign.

One deputy avoided crashing into the truck, but the second deputy collided with the vehicle, slamming into the front driver's side. The deputies had activated the emergency lights and sirens on their cruisers, and the driver told authorities that the last thing he remembers before the collision is opening a beer.

“One of our sheriff’s deputies was seriously injured in a crash because a thoughtless individual felt it was more important to drink a beer while driving, putting everyone on the roadway at risk, instead of driving safe,” said Sheriff John Idleburg. “We say it time and time again, don’t drink and drive. We are all wishing our deputy a speedy recovery.”

The crash is under investigation by Waukegan police.