Illinois driver on drugs, going 104 before crash into Chicago police station

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An Arlington Heights man was under the influence of drugs and driving up to 104 mph Sunday when he lost control of his car and slammed into the village's new police station

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The 44-year-old man, who recently moved to the suburbs from Brookhaven, Georgia, will be charged with reckless driving, driving under the influence of drugs and miscellaneous traffic citations in connection with the crash that occurred at 5:28 p.m. Sunday

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Authorities said the man lost control of his 2015 Volkswagen GTI about two blocks from the downtown station where the angled Davis Street turns into the east-west Sigwalt Street. The car struck a curb, benches, a fire hydrant and a mini-retaining wall before crashing into the building at 200 E. Sigwalt St.

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Firefighters had to cut him from the smashed car, which came to rest on its side near the station's front entrance.

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The black box recovered from the vehicle registered a high speed of 104 mph, police said. As part of the investigation, police also relied on surveillance video, traditional accident reconstruction techniques and a witness who saw the crash unfold from the neighboring fire station.

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"None of the sources of evidence suggested the collision was a purposeful act and was, instead, clearly a result of the recklessness of the driver,"

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In an interview with police at the hospital, the driver said he had taken cocaine and other prescription drugs before the crash, according to police Cmdr. Shawn Gyorke. Prescription drugs were found at the crash scene

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