KANKAKEE, IL — Two children are in critical condition Friday, after an alleged drunken driver of the truck they were in crashed into a creek, the Kankakee County Sheriff’s Office said.
Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched at approximately 11:23 p.m. on Feb. 12, to the area of 3700 East Illinois Route 17 after receiving an automated crash alert from an iPhone.
Deputies at the scene discovered a dark-colored pickup truck partially submerged in nearly two feet of partially frozen creek water. The vehicle was being driven by 58-year-old Phyllis A. Moses, of Pembroke Township, and had two young children inside at the time.
Deputies immediately focused their efforts on ensuring the safety and well-being of everyone involved, the sheriff’s office said in a release. Incidents of this nature are especially concerning given the dangerous conditions posed by cold water and overnight temperatures, the sheriff’s office said. The rapid notification by the iPhone allowed first responders to arrive quickly and provide assistance.
Moses was transported to a local hospital where she was subsequently arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol. The two young children were both transported to a Chicago-area hospital where they both remain in critical condition as of Friday morning, the sheriff’s office said.