Winfield Police: Suspect Ejected After 99 MPH Pursuit, Found to Have BAC Nearly Twice the Legal Limit
A late-night police pursuit through Winfield on Friday ended with a vehicle rolling several times in a field near Wendy’s on 109th Avenue, ejecting the driver and revealing a blood alcohol level nearly twice the legal limit, according to an affidavit filed this week in Lake County.
Winfield Police identified the driver as Daniel Alexander Sanchez, who now faces multiple charges including Resisting Law Enforcement with a Vehicle, Operating While Intoxicated, Reckless Driving, Driving While Suspended, and Operating Without Ever Receiving a License.
According to the affidavit filed by Winfield Police, the incident began around 9:55 p.m. on October 17, 2025, when an Officer observed a silver 2013 Lincoln MKS driving northbound in the wrong lane on Randolph Street before jumping a median and returning to the northbound lane.
When the officer activated his emergency lights to stop the vehicle, the driver continued west on 106th Avenue and ignored commands to stop. With sirens engaged, the pursuit continued south on Pike Street, where the vehicle reportedly reached speeds over 20 mph above the posted limit in a 20 mph zone.
As the chase progressed, officers reported the Lincoln blew through stop signs and a red light at 109th Avenue, swerving around other motorists before veering off the roadway into an open field near the Wendy’s restaurant. The vehicle rolled multiple times before coming to rest.
Responding officers found the driver — later identified as Sanchez — ejected from the vehicle through the sunroof. Officers noted a strong odor of alcohol coming from Sanchez, who was initially unresponsive.
Medics from Lakes of the Four Seasons EMS transported Sanchez to Holy Spirit Church, where he was airlifted by UCAN helicopter to the University of Chicago Medical Center for treatment of serious injuries.
Due to his condition, field sobriety testing was not possible at the scene. A crash reconstruction was later conducted by the Lake County Sheriff’s Department Traffic Investigations Unit.
Investigators later obtained a search warrant through Cook County Circuit Court to retrieve Sanchez’s hospital blood samples. Testing revealed a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .158 g/dL, nearly twice Indiana’s legal limit of .08.
Data recovered from the vehicle’s airbag control module showed Sanchez was traveling 99 mph in a 20 mph zone during the pursuit.
According to Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles records, Sanchez held only an Indiana identification card—not a driver’s license—and that identification was listed as suspended. He has never been issued a valid driver’s license.
The affidavit also details Sanchez’s extensive driving history, including:
• A 2025 conviction for Driving While Suspended in Huntington County, IN
• A 2023 conviction for Driving While Suspended in Huntington County, IN
• A 2019 Operating While Intoxicated conviction in Eau Claire County, WI
• A 2023 Driving While Intoxicated (2nd Offense) conviction in Washington County, AR
Authorities say Sanchez signed himself out of the University of Chicago Medical Center against medical advice on October 19, two days after the crash. Warrants for 11 criminal offenses have been issued for his arrest.
