St. Charles man drives into ravine during police chase

Police helped pull two 23-year-old St. Charles men from a vehicle, which was in a stream, after the driver went airborne into a ravine during a police chase early Thursday, authorities said.

St. Charles police pulled over Kyle P. Akers of the 900 block of Millstone Drive for speeding at 2:05 a.m. Thursday. While relaying the silver Audi’s license plate to a dispatcher after Akers stopped his vehicle, the 23-year-old sped off, police said.

Akers was stopped at the intersection of 6th and Indiana avenues before taking off. He then sped a block south down 6th Avenue and took a left onto Ohio Avenue. At the intersection of Ohio and 7th Avenue, he drove through the stop sign and went airborne through trees and vegetation before landing 6 feet below in a stream that ran through a ravine, police said.

Officers found Akers and a 23-year-old passenger inside the Audi and helped the men out of their car, said St. Charles Police spokesman Paul McCurtain.

An officer performed a field sobriety test on Akers at the scene, which the 23-year-old failed, McCurtain said.

Paramedics were called to the scene, but both Akers and his passenger waived medical treatment. Once at home, the passenger called 911 and was transported to Delnor Community Hospital in Geneva with an undisclosed injury sustained in the crash.

Akers was taken into custody and charged with aggravated fleeing causing great bodily harm, aggravated fleeing causing more than $300 in property damage, driving under the influence of alcohol and reckless driving among other traffic citations.

Police said an officer clocked Akers driving 40 mph in a 25 mph zone on Route 31 near Illinois Street, prompting the initial traffic stop once the driver reached 6th and Indiana avenues.

McCurtain said the car was heavily damaged in the crash. The Audi’s air bags were deployed.

Akers, who was also cited for speeding 15-20 mph above the limit, disregarding a stop sign, disregarding a traffic signal and improper lane usage, is being held in lieu of $25,000 bail.