A Des Plaines resident faces driving under the influence charges following a crash involving his Tesla Model 3 on January 11. Police report the vehicle was in self-drive mode when it lost control and struck a parked Jaguar. The driver admitted to consuming alcohol beforehand and refused sobriety tests.
On January 11 at around 4:15 a.m., Des Plaines police responded to a single-vehicle crash at the intersection of Wolf Road and Birchwood Avenue. The incident involved Jorge Velasco, a local from 1353 Highland Drive, who was standing beside a blue Tesla Model 3 upon officers' arrival.
According to police reports, Velasco stated he had been using the vehicle's self-drive mode while driving south on Wolf Road. The Tesla crossed into the northbound lanes, veered onto the east-side parkway, and skidded sideways, striking a white Jaguar. Tire tracks in the grass traced the path from Birchwood Avenue northward to the crash site.
Officers noted Velasco's red and watery eyes, along with a strong odor of alcohol. He admitted to drinking before entering the vehicle but repeatedly refused standardized field sobriety tests and further questioning at the station. Based on these observations and his admission, police arrested him on suspicion of driving under the influence.
Velasco was charged with one misdemeanor count of driving under the influence of alcohol, as well as improper lane usage and failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident. He was cited and released with court information.
The case highlights ongoing discussions around autonomous driving features and driver responsibility, though police emphasized the role of alcohol in this incident.
