Heroin User Plows Into Car In Riverside: Cops

La Grange IL

09 April, 2021

7:58 AM

Description

RIVERSIDE, IL — A man who ingested heroin before driving plowed into a stopped car in Riverside, sending a woman to the hospital, police said. Rick D. Ohlson, 30, of Justice, was arrested on charges of DUI, failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident and no vehicle insurance. According to a Riverside news release, responding officers saw a 23-year-old woman with a head injury who was bleeding profusely. She was taken to the hospital. The woman was a passenger in Ohlson's car. Just before the crash, a 39-year-old Chicago man had pulled over to the curb because he saw a sign about a rental unit about 5 p.m. Tuesday in the 2900 block of Harlem Avenue. He turned on his flashers, but was almost immediately hit by Ohlson's car, police said. While speaking with Ohlson, an officer noticed the driver had slow speech and movements, according to the release. The officer also said he saw track marks on Ohlson's arm consistent with ingesting narcotics, police said. Additionally, the officer noticed a number of hypodermic needles and syringes in the car, the report said. Ohlson admitted to taking heroin about 2½ hours before the accident, police said. He told police he had pulled over into the Burlington Coat Factory parking lot at the North Riverside Mall and shot up, then fell asleep for some time before he drove on Harlem Avenue, according to the news release. The driver of the stopped car was treated by paramedics, but was not taken to the hospital, police said. Both cars sustained heavy damage and were towed away. This is the second accident in the last several days involving alcohol or drugs in Riverside, police said. "Ingesting heroin before you drive is completely reckless and puts everyone's life in danger who are on the roadways," Police Chief Tom Weitzel said in the news release.