A car sat stuck on the Union Pacific railroad tracks near Poplar Avenue and First Street early Monday, July 20, its driver arrested on DUI charges. The downtown crossing carries three active tracks and sits blocks from the Elmhurst Metra station, where commuter and freight trains pass daily.
Elmhurst police arrested the driver, a 27-year-old Berkeley woman, at about 4:30 a.m., according to Elmhurst Police Department incident reports. She faces charges of DUI, trespass on railroad property, driving an uninsured vehicle, possession of open alcohol, and stopping where prohibited. Officers took her to the police station and released her.
The railroad-tracks incident was one of three DUI arrests Elmhurst police made over the weekend.
Route 83 and Lake Street
A 40-year-old Franklin Park man was arrested at about 2:30 a.m. Sunday, July 19, at Route 83 and Lake Street on charges of DUI, improper lane usage, and disobeying a traffic signal, according to EPD reports.
Clarion Inn, 933 S. Riverside Drive
An 18-year-old Chicago woman was arrested at about 3 a.m. Monday, July 20, on charges of DUI, driving an uninsured vehicle, and disobeying a stop sign at the Clarion Inn on South Riverside Drive, according to EPD reports.
All three DUI suspects were taken to the Elmhurst police station and released.
DUI enforcement context
EPD recorded 181 DUI arrests in 2025, ranking 16th statewide in the Alliance Against Intoxicated Motorists' annual survey of about 700 Illinois police departments. The department has 68 sworn officers.
Separate incident at Jewel, 153 Schiller Street
In a non-DUI case from the same weekend, a 49-year-old man was cited at about 8 a.m. Saturday, July 18, at the Jewel store at 153 Schiller St. on charges of possession of open alcohol in public and marijuana possession, according to EPD reports. He was also arrested on three outstanding DuPage County warrants. Police said he had been arrested in late May 2026 in connection with the burglary of a La Grange restaurant.
All charges from the July 18–20 incidents are pending in DuPage County court. No court dates have been announced. Union Pacific Railroad has separately scheduled a full closure of the Poplar Avenue crossing from Sunday, July 26, through Tuesday, August 4, for renewal work on all three tracks.
