Wrong-way driver nearly hits state trooper

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Updated: February 18, 2012 8:09AM

Illinois State Police said a drunken driver going the wrong way on the Kennedy Expressway nearly struck a state trooper conducting a traffic stop early Monday.

The trooper had pulled over a vehicle on the northbound Kennedy at Kostner about 1:45 a.m. when he spotted the wrong-way driver coming his way, Illinois State Police spokesman Mark Hall said.

The wrong-way driver swerved onto the shoulder, nearly striking the trooper’s squad car, Hall said.

The trooper made a U-turn and drove after the drunken driver, pulling him over a block or so away, Hall said.

No one was hurt during the incident, Hall said.

The driver — whose identity was not available Monday — was charged with DUI, wrong-way driving, not wearing a seatbelt, driving without insurance and failure to yield to an emergency vehicle, Hall said.