Romeoville man critically injured, charged with DUI after crashing into St. Charles building

A Romeoville man was critically injured early Wednesday when he crashed into a downtown St. Charles building while driving under the influence of alcohol, authorities said.

Juan M. Arreola, 28, of the 200 block of Traverse Court, was driving west on East Main Street at 1:04 a.m. when his car crossed over the eastbound lanes, left the road and ran into a traffic signal at the Fifth Avenue intersection, according to St. Charles police.

The vehicle, a 2019 Kia, continued west through the intersection, hit a St. Charles electric box and came to a rest against a building on the 400 block of East Main Street, officials said. There was no structural damage reported, though the crash temporarily interrupted power for the area until city staff members were able to restore it.

Arreola was cut from the vehicle and taken to Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital in Geneva, police said. He is in critical but stable condition.

Arreola was charged with DUI, improper lane use, illegal transportation of alcohol and failure to wear a seat belt, officials said. He was released from custody and remained in the hospital Wednesday.