State police corral wrong-way driver on the Edens Expressway

Illinois State Police say only the time of day and the fact there was light traffic prevented a tragedy early Thursday morning when an SUV traveled the wrong way for 11 miles on the Edens Expressway.

Police say the driver, a 24-year-old man from Glenview, was first spotted around 2:30 a.m. on I-94 near Elston Avenue, driving north in the southbound lanes. Ten minutes later he was finally stopped by Glencoe police at Tower Road, police said.

The driver, Sergio Galez-Delira, 24 of Glenview, was charged with driving while under the influence, reckless driving, having open alcohol in the vehicle, driving without insurance and improper lane usage. He was driving a Black 2001 Mitsubishi SUV.

The state police dispatched several cars in an attempt to curb the vehicle.

“The driver managed to avoid striking any other vehicles, but this could have turned into a horrific tragedy,” said State Police Master Sgt. Joseph Stangl. “Several callers reported they were nearly sideswiped by other drivers, and they were fearful of how to gain control of their vehicles.”