Motorist faces DUI charges after striking bicyclist

The 18-year-old motorist who struck a female bicyclist Sunday evening appears to have been under the influence of drugs at the time, Naperville police said Monday.

Brian R. Melbye, of the 1900 block of Green Trails Drive, Lisle, has been charged with four counts of driving under the influence -- two of which are for driving under the influence of drugs, one for aggravated driving under the influence and one for driving under the influence of cannabis, according to Cmdr. Dave Hoffman.

Melbye also is charged with failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident and failure to exercise due care.

The accident victim, Wendy Schild, 52, of Naperville, suffered bleeding in her brain and fractured her skull, hip and vertebrae, authorities said. She is in intensive care at Edward Hospital in Naperville.

Police say Melbye was driving a 1999 gray Honda Accord south on Washington Street near Meisinger Lane at 6:31 p.m. Sunday when he struck Schild, who was riding her silver Schwinn bicycle, also heading south.

Melbye was given field sobriety tests but failed, according to Hoffman. He is being held at the DuPage County jail. His bond was set at $400,000.

Members of the police department's traffic unit, who are trained in accident reconstruction, are investigating.