Cops: Driver crashes into Wheeling house, flees

A 20-year-old man has been arrested for leaving the scene of the accident after crashing into a Wheeling garage Sunday morning, police officials said.

Craig Brooks Jr., of the 500 block of West Lodge Trail in Wheeling, drove his Jeep Grand Cherokee into the side of a garage in the 600 block of Equestrian Drive at about 8:30 a.m., said Wheeling Deputy Chief Bill Benson.

Benson said the homeowner was not at the residence when the accident happened, and the garage did not have a vehicle inside of it. Benson also said Brooks was not injured in the crash.

However, after hitting the side of the garage, Brooks fled the scene on foot. But, he said, witnesses to the accident called police and gave the direction where Brooks was headed.

Officers were able to arrest Brooks in the 500 block of Pleasant Run Drive about 5 minutes after the accident, Benson said.

"He left the accident without anything in his possession, including his wallet," Benson said. "So, even if he managed to elude us, we would have contacted him about it."

Brooks was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, leaving the scene of a property damage accident and driving too fast for conditions, Benson said.

Court information for Brooks is unknown.