GURNEE, Ill. – On Tuesday, a 34-year-old man was accused of causing a series of crashes in Chicago’s northern suburbs while driving erratically and impaired.
According to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were called around 5:50 p.m. about a possible intoxicated driver who hit a car near a gas station in the 36000 block of Grandwood Drive in unincorporated Gurnee and then drove away.
Moments later, the same man allegedly struck another vehicle in the gas station parking lot before fleeing again. Witnesses informed deputies that the man was driving erratically and appeared to be bleeding.
A deputy saw the suspect’s vehicle and attempted to pull him over, but the driver refused to stop. Instead, deputies say he continued to drive recklessly, leading them on a chase across multiple roads. At one point, near Stearns School Road and Hunt Club Road, the man sideswiped two vehicles, injuring one of the drivers.
Deputies briefly cornered him in traffic near Hunt Club Road and Grand Avenue and attempted to get into his vehicle, but the driver sped away once the traffic cleared.
The pursuit continued on Route 21. As deputies prepared to use spike strips, they say the man, who was driving southbound, ran a red light on Gages Lake Road and T-boned a vehicle turning left. Four people inside, including two children, were injured but are expected to recover.
The suspect then struck another car driving north on Route 21, injuring the driver as well.
The suspect’s vehicle was eventually stopped by deputies, who disabled it with a squad car. The man was then brought into custody.
The suspect and victims were all transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Reno J. Giangiorgi, an unincorporated Gurnee resident, was identified as the suspect. He has been charged with aggravated DUI, two counts of aggravated fleeing and eluding, and several traffic violations. Officials expect additional charges.
Giangiorgi is being held at the Lake County Jail awaiting his first court appearance on Wednesday. The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office intends to petition the judge to keep him detained while awaiting trial.
According to officials, one of the children is still in the hospital, but all of the others are improving.
