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Police: Driver in Rand Road crash left injured girlfriend behind

A 29-year-old man is facing multiple charges alleging he was driving drunk early Monday when his car crashed into a wooded area in Des Plaines, then fled the scene, leaving his injured girlfriend behind.

Emil E. Nichitoi of Des Plaines appeared in Cook County bond court Wednesday on charges of aggravated driving under the influence, fleeing the scene of a personal injury accident, improper lane usage and failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, stemming from the crash near Ballard and Rand roads.

He later posted $50,000 bail and is free pending his next court appearance April 17.

Nichitoi was taken into custody Tuesday night after being released from Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, police Cmdr. Dan Shanahan said Wednesday. His girlfriend remained in the hospital Wednesday for ongoing treatment, but she's expected to fully recover, Shanahan said.

Des Plaines police and firefighters arriving at the crash scene about 2:30 a.m. Monday found a semiconscious woman in the front passenger seat of the vehicle. No one else was in the car, police said.

Five hours later, a man later identified as Nichitoi was located on the 500 block of Wilson Lane, about a quarter-mile west of the crash scene. He was not wearing shoes, socks or a coat, and the clothes he had on were soaking wet, police said. He also had injuries consistent with being in a car crash and had a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on his breath, according to police.

Police said an investigation determined Nichitoi was behind the wheel when the crash occurred. Evidence of that included statements from his girlfriend, as well as all her injuries indicating she was in the passenger's seat at the time of the crash, Shanahan said.

Nichitoi's attorney, Mark Sutter, said some of the evidence cited by prosecutors during Wednesday's bond hearing is worthy of further investigation.

"We will be entering a plea of not guilty and moving forward with the legal process," Sutter said.

According to police, Nichitoi was driving west on Ballard approaching Rand when the car hit a utility box and utility pole, then careened off the roadway and into a wooded area off Rand.

Roads near the crash scene were closed for several hours Monday while police conducted their investigation.

Des Plaines police seek DNA to determine the driver in Rand Road crash

  Des Plaines police have arrested a 29-year-old man on driving under the influence and fleeing the scene of an accident charges stemming from this crash early Monday at Rand and Ballard roads. Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com
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