A Mount Prospect man is facing felony DUI charges after police say he was driving drunk when he was pulled from his car Thursday night before an Amtrak train struck it – all after he had crashed into another parked vehicle then got stuck on train tracks.
Pawel Malecki, 56, of the 500 block of Holly Avenue in Mount Prospect, is charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, leaving the scene of an accident, improper traffic lane usage and failure to reduce speed.
Morton Grove police explained in a news release that officers were called to River Drive and Lehigh Avenue around 7 p.m. Thursday following a reckless driving complaint involving a 2004 Acura TL.
Before officers arrived, the driver had crashed into another vehicle that was parked in the 8100 block of Lehigh Avenue. Then the motorist, identified as Malecki, drove off, attempting to cross the nearby railroad tracks before his car became disabled, according to the release.
“Nearby witnesses to the incident were able to remove the driver from the vehicle,” police state in the release.
That happened just before the Acura was struck by a southbound Amtrak train.
Police say neither the driver nor passengers on the train reported injuries.
Malecki was arrested at the scene, and a small stretch of Lehigh Avenue was closed.
Melecki is scheduled to appear in court Dec. 9 at the Skokie Courthouse.
Anyone with additional information related to the incident is asked to contact the Morton Grove Police Department at 847-470-5200
