St. Charles man charged after multiple crashes, chase in Batavia

A 21-year-old St. Charles man was arrested after causing multiple crashes and leading police on a chase in Batavia, authorities said.

At 9:49 p.m. Tuesday Ethan Viland, 21, of the 900 block of South 10th Street, drove through a Batavia neighborhood and west down West Wilson Street while crashing into multiple cars, according to a Batavia police report.

Police were first dispatched to the area of North Prairie Street and Maves Drive for a reckless driving complaint.

Throughout the chase, Viland was speeding without his headlights on, police said. He also disobeyed a traffic signal and crossed into oncoming traffic, nearly striking a stopped police vehicle, police said.

Authorities caught up to Viland at the intersection of West Wilson Street and Randall Road, where he had collided with two other vehicles, the news release said.

Viland is charged with felony aggravated fleeing of a police officer and aggravated fleeing and eluding police while disobeying a traffic control device, as well as numerous traffic violations, police said.

No injuries were reported.