A man who fell asleep at the wheel while waiting for a train to pass in Riverside tried to escape police by driving away at 96 mph, then parking near a bar and covering himself in garbage, authorities said.
Ashton T. Adger, 23, was charged with felony fleeing police and marijuana possession charges, as well as driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs. He was also cited with driving 96 mph in a 30-mph zone, according to a release from Riverside police.
Police were called to Harlem Avenue and Burlington Street in the west suburb about 1:15 a.m. Monday after someone saw a driver passed out in his car near a railroad crossing and worried that he might need medical help, according to police.
Officers found the car parked in the right lane facing south and knocked on the window.
When Adger eventually woke up, he was confused, his eyes were bloodshot and officers could smell marijuana, police said. The man said he was heading to the Pointe in Urbana — an apartment complex for students — and had fallen asleep waiting for a train to go by, police said.
When officers told the man to get out of his car, he shifted into gear and drove south on Harlem at 96 mph, eventually parking near Marlins Bar & Grill, west of 39th Street and Harlem in Lyons and running off. A Riverside sergeant found him covered in garbage in a large Dumpster, police said.
After arresting Adger, police found about 5 ounces of marijuana on him. They also found several bags of marijuana along the route Adger had run to the Dumpster, police said. Police confiscated $785 cash from him.
Adger, who lives in Champaign and previously lived in Bellwood, told police he had been visiting a friend and intended to go to his father’s home in Lyons before traveling to Urbana, police said.
Adger has a pending felony gun and drug charge in Champaign County.