In a stark reminder of the dangers of drinking and driving, a Mount Prospect man, Pawel Malecki, stands accused of multiple offenses following a harrowing incident that nearly resulted in catastrophe. According to the Chicago Tribune, Malecki, age 56, is being charged with felony DUI among other violations after he was extricated from his vehicle moments before it was demolished by an oncoming Amtrak train in Morton Grove.
The scenario unfolded around 7 p.m. on a Thursday evening when Morton Grove police received a reckless driving complaint, reporting to River Drive and Lehigh Avenue. "Nearby witnesses to the incident were able to remove the driver from the vehicle," reported the police statement, an act that likely saved Malecki from severe injury or worse. The abandoned car, left stalled on the tracks, was struck shortly thereafter by the southbound train, thankfully without injuries reported from passengers aboard or Malecki himself. Despite the absence of physical harm, Lehigh Avenue faced an unavoidable closure as authorities managed the aftermath of the event.
As reported by FOX 32 Chicago, before the vehicular and train collision, Malecki had previously collided with a parked car on Lehigh Avenue. His impaired journey did not end with the car-to-car contact, instead, his 2004 black Acura TL found its terminus on the train tracks, obstructing the path of the Amtrak. Following the incident, Malecki was arrested and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, failure to reduce speed, leaving the scene of a crash, and improper lane usage.
Investigations are proceeding under the guidance of the Morton Grove Police Department and Metra Police Department, with an earnest call for additional information from anyone who might have insight into the reckless events of the evening. Malecki is set to confront these charges in court come December 9, at the Skokie Courthouse.
