Sheriff: Driver overdosed behind wheel near Gurnee

Charges are pending against a 54-year-old Waukegan man who authorities say suffered an opioid overdose while driving near Gurnee early Tuesday morning.

Lake County sheriff's police said deputies were called at 1:20 a.m. Tuesday about a reckless driver on Route 41 near Stearns School Road.

A witness following the Dodge Charger north on Route 41 reported that the driver was unable to stay in his lane, according to the sheriff's office.

On several occasions, the driver struck the concrete median dividing the northbound and southbound lanes. The tires on the Dodge became badly damaged, but the driver continued driving on the rims, sheriff's police said.

As the driver continued north, the Dodge struck another vehicle in the area of Route 41 and Wadsworth Road, authorities said.

When Deputy Jason Plichta and Deputy J.R. Halek located the car on Route 41 about a mile south of Route 173 in Newport Township, the driver was unresponsive inside, sheriff's police said. The deputies determined the driver likely was suffering an opioid overdose and administered three doses of the overdose-reversing drug naloxone, causing him to regain consciousness.

The driver was taken to a hospital for treatment. After his release from the hospital, he will be charged with driving under the influence and other traffic-related offenses, according to the sheriff's office.