Harvard man with 6 DUI convictions accused of fleeing from Lake in the Hills crash

A Harvard man with six prior drunken-driving convictions remained at the McHenry County Jail Tuesday after striking another car and fleeing the scene, court records show.

Lake in the Hills police arrested 44-year-old Mathew S. Berry on Saturday in connection with a crash at the intersection of Miller Road and Lakewood Road.

Berry, of the 3700 block of Hawthorne Road, is charged with aggravated driving under the influence, driving on a suspended license, leaving the scene of an accident and failure to give information after an accident. Officers also cited Berry with making an improper turn at an intersection, failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, and transportation of alcohol.

The crash happened about 10:15 p.m. Saturday, Lake in the Hills Police Communications Coordinator Ashley Eccles said in an email. Berry was driving south on North Lakewood Road at Miller Road in a 2003 Ford Explorer while another driver was traveling north in a Jeep, Eccles said.

“The Jeep was midway through the intersection when Berry turned left into the vehicle,” Eccles said. “As a result, moderate damage was caused to both vehicles. Berry then left the scene of the crash. No injuries were reported.”

A witness followed the Ford Explorer, which officers later pulled over, court records show.

Berry had a blood-alcohol content of 0.213 and six prior DUI convictions at the time of the crash, court records show. Officers also found an open bottle of Coors Light in a cup holder inside the vehicle, according to court documents.

Berry would need to post $12,000 to secure his release from the McHenry County Jail. He is scheduled to make a court appearance Wednesday morning with an attorney from the McHenry County Public Defender’s Office.