DUI suspect slams into Hoffman Estates school

A man suspected of drunk driving slammed his car into Eisenhower Junior High School in Hoffman Estates while fleeing from a traffic stop early Saturday morning, causing significant damage to the school's gymnasium.

According to a message on Eisenhower's website, a structural engineer visited the school Monday to determine a plan of action for the necessary repairs. Schaumburg Township Elementary District 54 officials were still waiting for the engineer's report late in the day.

“We're not using the gym until we know it's structurally safe,” district spokeswoman Terri McHugh said.

The school is planning on conducting physical education classes and basketball practices outdoors, as long as the weather allows it, according to the note from Principal Steve Kern and Assistant Principal Brandon Todd.

Hoffman Estates police said the crash occurred about 12:29 a.m. Saturday when Jonathan Carlos Hernandez, 23, of Streamwood, was fleeing north from a traffic stop along Jones Road from Higgins Road.

Police said Hernandez, of the 500 block of Southwood Circle, failed to make the left turn at Jones and Hassell roads, lost control of the 2013 Toyota Scion he was driving, and crashed through a brick wall and into the school gym. The school was unoccupied at the time.

Hernandez was taken from the scene to St. Alexius Medical Center in Hoffman Estates, where he was later placed under arrest on one felony count of aggravated driving under the influence, one felony count of aggravated driving while license revoked, one felony count of aggravated fleeing or eluding, speeding,

improper lane use, improper turning, disobeying a stop sign and several other traffic citations.

Hernandez was released from the hospital Sunday morning and appeared in Cook County court Monday morning, where he was assigned a public defender and Judge Joseph Cataldo set his bail at $90,000. He is scheduled to return to court Nov. 20.