Man charged with DUI led police on miles long, slow-motion chase

SUGAR GROVE TOWNSHIP – A Yorkville man was charged with driving under the influence after he allegedly drove over a road's center line, drove through stop signs and nearly crashed into a school bus, according to Kane County Sheriff's reports.

Christian A. Annel, 22, of the 200 block of Walsh Circle, Yorkville, was also charged May 25 with driving with a blood-alcohol content greater than 0.08 percent, failure to yield to an emergency vehicle, possession of drug paraphernalia and failing to stop at two stop signs, reports stated.

A sheriff’s deputy was alerted to Annel as a welfare check at 7:05 a.m. May 25 as he was seen slumped over the steering wheel in his vehicle parked at the end of a driveway in the 4S100 block of Harter Road, Sugar Grove Township, reports stated.

The motor was running and Annel appeared to be unconscious, reports stated.

The deputy pulled behind Annel's vehicle and Annel woke up, looked at the deputy in his side mirror and then began to drive south on Harter Road, reports stated.

The deputy followed him with his siren on and used an air horn to warn him and other drivers, as Annel crossed the center line into oncoming traffic, forcing another vehicle off the roadway, reports stated.

Annel then overcorrected and partially exited on the west shoulder, going about 10 miles an hour, then continued on Harter going about 10 miles an hour to 20 miles an hour, crossing the center line and the right shoulder of the road several times, reports stated.

Annel drove through a four-way stop sign at Scott and Harter roads, continuing on Harter at about 40 miles an hour, continuing to cross into oncoming traffic and forcing several motorists to leave the roadway, reports stated.

The deputy used the public address system in the squad car to order Annel to pull over and stop several times, but Annel continued going southeast on Harter into the school zone for Kaneland Middle School at Esker Drive, reports stated.

The deputy saw Annel just miss hitting a school bus that was parked on the shoulder of Esker Drive, reports stated.

Annel continued on Harter to Route 47 where he turned south on Route 47 without stopping at the stop sign or applying the brakes, reports stated.

Annel continued on Route 47 to Bliss Road where he stopped because of backed up traffic, permitting the deputy to catch up to him, reports stated.

The deputy walked up to Annel’s vehicle and talked to him, but when Annel did not respond, the deputy used his baton to try to break the driver’s side window, reports stated.

But instead of the window breaking, the baton broke into pieces, reports stated, so the deputy opened the car door, reached in to turn off the engine and pulled Annel out and put handcuffs on him, reports stated.

Annel told the deputy he drank five beers at a party in DeKalb and did not remember leaving or driving, reports stated.

Annel said, “I was safe and sound in apartment,” several times when talking to the deputy, reports stated.

Annel said he believed the beers and lack of sleep affected him, reports stated.

Annel’s blood alcohol content was 0.103 reports stated.

In addition to the charges, deputies also took possession of a .45 caliber handgun in the vehicle's cargo area for safekeeping.

Annel is scheduled to appear in court June 20.