Cops: Woman in rush to pick up kids causes crash, tries to drive away in victim’s vehicle

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Updated: January 10, 2012 8:25AM

A Naperville woman is facing criminal charges after she caused a chain-reaction traffic accident, commandeered a minivan involved in the crash and then dragged the vehicle’s owner several feet when she tried to flee because “she had to go pick her kids up,” police said.

Rhonda L. Fitzpatrick is facing charges including aggravated battery for the incident, which started about 5:12 p.m. Nov. 11.

Naperville police Sgt. Gregg Bell said Fitzpatrick, 37, was driving a 1999 Ford Explorer when she rear-ended a Ford Windstar that had come to a stop at Oak Bluff Court and Washington Street.

Five more vehicles then crashed into each other in a chain reaction, Bell said, and the drivers got out to assess the damage.

“Ms. Fitzpatrick was insistent upon leaving,” Bell said, and put her SUV into reverse, striking two of the vehicles behind hers.

She then got out of her SUV, got into the Windstar she had struck “and proceeded to drive it,” Bell said. The minivan owner “tried to stop her from doing that” and ended up being dragged “a few feet,” he said.

The van owner was not seriously injured, Bell said. Fitzpatrick then stopped and got out of the minivan, got back into her SUV and drove away, he said.

She surrendered last week after a warrant was issued for her arrest.

Fitzpatrick is also charged with criminal trespass to a vehicle, reckless driving, failure to give information or aid following an accident, knowingly damaging property, leaving the scene of a property damage accident and driving with a suspended license, authorities said.