Minnesota Man Arrested for DUI After Crashing Into Cornfield Along I-39 in Illinois
MONROE CENTER, ILLINOIS – An early morning crash on Interstate 39 near Monroe Center ended with a Minnesota man under arrest for driving under the influence after his car crossed multiple lanes and landed in a cornfield.
Wild Ride Across I-39
According to the Ogle County Sheriff’s Office, the incident happened around 4:59 a.m. Wednesday when 28-year-old Ahlem Small of Shakopee, Minnesota, lost control of his 2012 Nissan Sentra while driving southbound on I-39.
Deputies say Small’s vehicle veered off the roadway, crossed over both northbound lanes of traffic, and finally came to a stop in a cornfield near the 6000 block of North Limestone Road.
Arrest and Charges
Authorities arrested Small at the scene and charged him with driving under the influence of alcohol. In addition, he was cited for:
- Failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident
- Illegal transportation of alcohol
- Improper lane usage
- Parking in the roadway
No injuries were reported in the crash, but officials said the situation could have been far worse given the vehicle’s path across the interstate.
Released Under Pretrial Fairness Act
Small was booked into the Ogle County Jail before being released under provisions of Illinois’ Pretrial Fairness Act, which allows some defendants to await trial outside of custody. He has been issued a notice to appear in court at a later date.
This case underscores ongoing concerns about drunk driving on Illinois highways, especially in rural counties where high speeds and wide roadways can turn dangerous in an instant. For more updates on roadway safety and community news across Illinois, keep following ChicagoMusicGuide.com.