Minivan Hits Tree, Boulder in Late-Night Crash
A woman was taken to St. Joe’s in Joliet following the one-car accident at Drauden and Renwick roads early Monday morning.
Updated Oct. 5: The driver has been charged with DUI as a result of this incident. READ: Woman Charged with DUI After Crash.
Original story:
A minivan plowed through the traffic circle at Drauden and Renwick roads and struck a large rock late Sunday night, sending the driver to the hospital.
Plainfield Deputy Fire Chief Jon Stratton said the woman was taken to Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center in Joliet for observation following the accident, which happened shortly before midnight Sunday. She was listed in good condition, Stratton said.
According to Stratton, the minivan stuck the boulder and moved it 10 to 15 feet.
“She hit the boulder and took out a tree,” he said.
Plainfield police did not return a call for more information from Patch on Monday.
In This article
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Plainfield Fire Protection District
23748 W 135th St, Plainfield, IL -
Plainfield Police Department
14300 Coil Plus Dr, Plainfield, IL -
Shane grojean
7:25 am on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Hopefully they move the boulder back soon to keep people from going through the circle (common occurence before the boulder).
John Tips
9:17 am on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Was she drunk or just speeding?
I have noticed that our police department needs to increase the ticketing of people who speed through this community. Now that we have another young officer - perhaps they will enforce the speed limits better, along with broken taillights, headlights, brake lights, and other violations!
Every day I see people in town running red lights, turning right without stopping at a Stop Sign, I was even passed several times last month on Meadow Drive while observing the speed limit there! Impaired drivers and people not using their seat belts are not the only problems here in town!
Louis Lipps
11:43 am on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
I hate those circles. Put up a stop light and call Tom Cross.
Plainfield Ind
1:10 pm on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Hopefully, Tom Cross hangs up the phone on Ray. You'd rather sit for three minutes at a time at yet another unsynchronized stop light at $4/gallon of gas? Second, I'm stunned a van hitting a rock even justifies a story from the media. There's far more in the community going on than a van bumping into a rock. Glad to see the rock and tree are doing their jobs which the cost is far less if there were a stoplight at the intersection.
Alijdfliawje
12:20 pm on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
I love those circles, much more efficient way to move traffic. To some people turning the wheel before hitting a stationary object is just too difficult. Given the time of the accident, the woman was probably just tired and not paying attention, or maybe had just gotten off work and was beat.
Gary Servic
12:40 pm on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
I like your sarcasm.......:)
Kevin S
4:12 pm on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Sounds like we might need a bigger rock.
MidwestGal
4:50 pm on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
The circles are great IF they are used correctly - too many lazy left hand turners try to cut it short (if they can't see any cars) instead of going around it. The police are far to busy ticketing people for rolling stops and they need to police school zones and intersections for red light runners. I too am stunned this hit the media - what about the teenager not paying attention who hit a full school bus last week (PNHS)?
Plainfield Resident
9:14 am on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Perhaps it's time to put up STOP SIGNS opposed to Yield Signs at that circle!! People NEVER stop and many don't even slow down, it is most dangerous and it's gonna take more accidents or fatalities at the location before the village gets the hint. Be PROACTIVE and prevent what could be tragic NOW!!!
Joel Craig
10:16 am on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
The point of a traffic circle is to keep traffic moving, and so that car don't need to stop. Part of the problem is that American drivers simply aren't familiar with them and how they work. Another issue is the one at Renwick and Drauden is poorly designed; it's simply not large enough to move traffic effectively in all four directions. It either should be enlarged to increase the distance between the four feeders, or it should be removed and replaced with a standard four-way intersection, especially now with the nearly completed Renwick Rd. bridge and impending traffic increase in this area.
Dave D
12:48 pm on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Thank you for the info Patch. I noticed the circle was in disarray and wondered what happened. The tree is still laying on the sidewalk. I love the traffic circle and wish more drivers actually knew how to navigate through them without stopping at a yield sign when there is no traffic coming. When used as designed traffic circles increase traffic flow tremendously as opposed to a 4-way stop.
Louis Lipps
1:15 pm on Friday, October 5, 2012
@Plainfield independent. My comment was meant with all the sarcasm one can muster. It turns out this is another situation where a drunk driver did something dumb and as with some of the other recent incidents along Rt 126 would most likely still have occurred no matter how many stop lights or signs were installed or how many government officials we called begging to fix our measly lives because we're too lazy and entitled to fix things ourselves.