Police: Carpentersville man deliberately drove into 3 people

A Carpentersville man has been charged with attempted murder after plowing his car into three pedestrians Saturday near Carpentersville Middle School, officials said.

Julian Cruz, 18, was allegedly involved in a fight with the three victims before he intentionally drove into them about 11:10 p.m. and then fled the scene, according to a Carpentersville Police Department news release. One of the victims is hospitalized in critical condition; the other two were treated at area hospitals.

Cruz was arrested Sunday and later charged with three counts each of attempted first-degree murder and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon (vehicle) and one count of aggravated battery causing great bodily harm, all felonies.

The arrest followed an investigation by the Carpentersville Police Department Investigations Division, with assistance from the Kane County Accident Reconstruction Team and the Fox Valley Major Crimes Task Force Forensic Unit.

“This arrest is the culmination of a thorough investigation conducted by our patrol officers, detectives and the invaluable assistance by our law enforcement partners,” Carpentersville Police Chief Kevin Stankowitz said. “We remain committed to following the facts, conducting comprehensive investigations and holding offenders accountable through the criminal justice system.”

Anyone with additional information on the incident should call the investigations division at (847) 551-3481.