State trooper hurt when Maywood woman strikes squad car in DuPage

A 31-year-old Maywood woman is being held on $200,000 bail after, authorities say, she was driving drunk when she crashed her car into a parked state police vehicle and injured a trooper.

Natasha Mister, of the 1000 block of South 14th Avenue, is charged with aggravated DUI and several traffic offenses.

Officials said Trooper Jeff Klecka was seated in his fully marked squad car around 12:44 a.m. Sunday on the right shoulder of southbound I-355, just north of Army Trail Road in DuPage County, when Mister struck his car.

Klecka was waiting for a tow truck to arrive as the result of a previous traffic stop. All rear emergency lights and the arrow stick on Klecka's vehicle were activated.

An investigation into the crash revealed Mister had a blood alcohol content above 0.15, authorities said.

"This senseless crash, as are all alleged DUI cases, was 100 percent avoidable," DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said in a written statement. "While policing our roadways, our troopers have a hard enough job as it is and do not need to feel like they are sitting ducks as cars drive by at 55 miles per hour. Thankfully, Trooper Klecka's injuries are not life-threatening."

Mister's next court appearance is scheduled for Sept. 26.