Barrington man suffers brain trauma in I-90 crash

A 24-year-old Barrington man was in critical condition this morning following a tollway accident Friday afternoon, authorities say.

The driver, 51-year-old Jay Hallberg of Crab Apple Lane in Rockford, remained in jail on a $150,000 bond today. He faces a felony aggravated DUI charge that could bring a prison term of up to 12 years.

Cook County prosecutor Jerome Allen says Hallberg was westbound on I-90 at 12:22 p.m. Friday, when he rear-ended a Ford Focus near the Des Plaines Oasis, causing a chain reaction that involved a Chevy Cavalier driven by the 24-year-old Barrington resident.

The man was listed as in critical condition with brain trauma at Alexian Brothers Medical Center in Elk Grove Village as of 5 a.m. this morning, Allen said.

An update on his status was not immediately available this afternoon.

Hallberg told officers at the scene he had been drinking with friends at a restaurant, Allen said, adding Hallberg refused blood alcohol tests.

Hallberg's blood was drawn six hours later without his consent and the results revealed a blood-alcohol content of 0.113, above the legal limit of 0.10, according to authorities.

In arguing for a higher bond, prosecutors told Cook County Judge Margarita Kulys-Hoffman that Hallberg's wife told officers her husband has a history of drunken driving. His criminal record, however, only revealed a speeding ticket.

Hallberg did not post the required bail of $15,000 today. His next court date is scheduled for July 7.