A Schiller Park man who crashed into an Elmwood Park business was driving drunk while his daughter was in the car, police say.
Wilson Melendez, 24, of the 9200 block of Irving Park Road, was taken into custody 11:10 p.m. May 21 after he allegedly crashed his vehicle into the Advance Auto Parts store at 2850 N. Harlem Ave. at around 10:30 p.m. His 4-year-old daughter was in the vehicle at the time of the accident, police said.
According to Elmwood Park Police Chief Frank Fagiano, Melendez was driving west on George Street and crossed Harlem Avenue, went through the parking lot and crashed into the business’s large glass window. The child was not injured and was turned over to her mother after the incident, police said.
After being taken into custody, Melendez was charged with felony aggravated driving while under the influence of alcohol and felony driving while under the influence of alcohol involving an accident with a passenger under 16 years of age. He also received several traffic citations from police.
Elmwood Park Police Chief Frank Fagiano said drinking and driving is bad, but this incident is a bit worse.
“Driving impaired with a young child in the car is the worse offense you can do,” he said.
Melendez is scheduled to appear in court next on June 4.