Two Cook County women are being held before trial after prosecutors say a Saturday traffic stop in Oak Brook turned into a 104-mph chase, a crash into a police squad car and a minor officer injury. No innocent motorists were hurt or killed, according to authorities.
According to the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office, an Oak Brook officer tried to stop an Infiniti near Butterfield Road and Meyers Road because it allegedly had expired plates and tinted windows. Prosecutors say the driver, 29-year-old Vanessa Mejia of Elmwood Park, lost control while attempting to pass another vehicle and reached speeds exceeding 104 mph in a 45-mph zone.
The Infiniti eventually crashed, and authorities allege 21-year-old Magaly Valencia of Des Plaines was following in a Dodge Charger that kept pace with the officer. The Charger allegedly tried to interfere with the officer’s effort to stop the Infiniti, then lost control after the officer applied the brakes and struck the squad car, causing significant damage.
The officer was taken to a local hospital for medical attention, with officials describing the injuries as minor. Mejia was taken into custody after the Infiniti crashed, while Valencia was also arrested in connection with the pursuit and the alleged crash into the police vehicle.
Mejia is charged with aggravated fleeing and eluding, along with multiple misdemeanor and petty traffic offenses. Valencia faces the same felony and traffic charges, plus one count of concealing or aiding a fugitive, which prosecutors identify as a Class 4 felony; Judge Michael Burton granted the state’s request to detain both women before trial.
Both Defendants Face August 31 Court Date
Under Illinois law, aggravated fleeing can apply when a driver eludes police while traveling at least 21 mph over the legal limit, causes bodily injury, causes more than $300 in property damage or meets other listed conditions. The complaint contains allegations only, and both women are presumed innocent unless prosecutors prove the charges in court.
Mejia and Valencia are scheduled to return to court on August 31. The case puts another high-speed pursuit near Oak Brook’s busy commercial corridors under judicial review, this time with allegations involving two vehicles and damage to a police squad car.
