Rolling Meadows driver charged in crash near Daily Herald building

A Rolling Meadows man has been charged with an aggravated DUI after police say he rear-ended an SUV at the intersection of Algonquin Road and Tonne Drive in Arlington Heights before driving his truck into a light pole just a few hundred feet away from the Daily Herald office complex Sunday afternoon.

Police Sgt. Greg Czarnecki said Pilar Alvarado, 56, was taken into police custody and is awaiting a bond court hearing on Monday. In addition to his aggravated DUI charge, which is a class 4 felony, Alvarado was also driving with a revoked driver's license.

Czarnecki said Alvarado was driving west on Algonquin Road toward Arlington Heights Road in the center lane behind the unidentified driver of a Lexus RX330. The driver of the SUV slowed down to stop at the red light at Tonne Drive. but Alvarado failed to stop and plowed his Ford F-150 into the back of the mid-size SUV.

After the crash, Alvarado backed his car up, turned left and drove down the private drive that leads to the Daily Herald office complex. He had only driven a few hundred feet down road before slamming his truck into a lightpole, knocking it down and killing his truck's engine, Czarnecki said.

Alvardo and the driver of the SUV were not hurt in the wreck, Czarnecki said.