OWI Appears To Be Possible Reason For Crash In Portage
On Saturday December 14, 2024 at approximately 11:40 PM, a Portage Officer on patrol was flagged down by a passerby who reported a motor vehicle crash had just occurred in the 6000 block of Central Avenue, according to Portage Police.
Upon arriving in the area, the officer located a black 2006 Jeep Cherokee on its side in the front lawn of City Hall (6070 Central Ave.) A twenty-nine-ycar-old Portage man was located inside the vehicle who was conscious and alert but trapped. It appears the driver, who was the only occupant, was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash.
Portage Fire Department arrived and began extricating the man. Once the man was freed he was transported to an Illinois trauma center with life threatening injuries. A medical helicopter had been requested but none were able to fly due to weather conditions at the time.
The investigation shows that the vehicle was traveling westbound on Central Avenue at a high rate of speed when it left the north side of the roadway striking the southeastern gas pump located at the Gas Co.
Weather conditions, excessive speed, and alcohol consumption appear to the contributing factors in this crash, Portage Police said. Criminal charges are pending toxicology results.
📷- Portage Fire Department
