Elgin man charged with DUI after crashing into Carpentersville squad car

A 24-year-old Elgin man faces a driving under the influence charge after police say he crashed into a Carpentersville squad car, causing it to start on fire early Saturday.

Two marked police cars were parked with their emergency lights activated behind a vehicle that had been pulled over for driving 55 mph in a 35-mph zone at about 5:38 a.m. on Route 25 at North Lake Parkway, Chief Michael Kilbourne said.

A pickup truck driven by Victor Hugo Yanez hit the back of the first squad car, pushing it into the second squad car, which then struck the vehicle that had been stopped for speeding, he said. The first squad car started on fire as a result of the crash.

The two officers conducting the traffic stop were not in their vehicles and uninjured, Kilbourne said.

The driver initially accused of speeding had been in the back seat of the second squad car, and a passenger remained in the vehicle that was pulled over, he said. Both were taken to the hospital with minor injuries.

Yanez is charged with driving under the influence, failing to reduce speed to avoid an accident, failing to yield for an emergency vehicle and operating an uninsured vehicle, Kilbourne said.

He also is charged with the improper passing of an emergency vehicle, also known as Scott's Law, which requires drivers to proceed with caution, change lanes if possible and slow down when approaching a police or fire vehicle stopped along the roadway with its emergency lights activated.

Yanez was released on an individual recognizance bond. His next court date is March 26.