COOK COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTHOUSE — Prosecutors said a man was intoxicated when he got into a car that wasn't his after a party early Friday and struck a woman, leaving her seriously injured.
Saul Rizo, 20, was charged with receiving, possessing or selling a stolen vehicle; aggravated DUI in an accident causing bodily harm; and driving under the influence of alcohol. He was also ticketed for driving on a suspended license and two other traffic-related violations.
Witnesses saw Rizo drink four to five beers at a party in a 3700 block of South Wood Street, Assistant State's Attorney Jacqueline Kwilos said.
Rizo then got into an argument, took a set of car keys from the table and left, according to Kwilos.
It was about 3:15 a.m. when he starting driving and struck a 20-year-old woman, who then became pinned against her car, Kwilos said. Rizo also hit eight parked cars, according to Kwilos.
As Rizo continued to drive, some people pulled him out of the car and started to beat him up, Kwilos said.
When police arrived, multiple people began to run from the scene, according to a police report.
Officers found the injured woman lying on her back in the street, and she told them, "He ran me down with his car," according to the report. The victim, who identified Rizo by name, told police that he drove the car toward her as she tried to run away, according to the report.
A witness who refused to give a name told police that Rizo hit the woman on purpose, the report states.
On the scene, Rizo yelled a gang slogan at witnesses, according to the report.
Cops noticed that Rizo had bloodshot eyes, slurred speech and a strong odor of alcohol, Kwilos said.
According to Kwilos, the man who owns the car Rizo was driving said he didn't know Rizo and didn't give him permission to drive the car.
The woman was taken to Stroger Hospital, where she was in serious condition with a crushed fibula, according to the arrest report. The victim also suffered from muscle and arterial damage, and she required surgery, according to Kwilos.
Rizo was also taken to Stroger Hospital after he complained of head pain, Kwilos said. Police found he had a blood alcohol content of .092, above the legal limit of .08, she said.
Judge Maria Kuriakos Ciesil ordered Rizo, of the 3600 block of South Paulina Street, held in lieu of $100,000 bail.
