Joliet driver charged with DUI in crash with semitrailer truck

A Joliet woman whose driver’s license had already been revoked is accused of driving under the influence and crashing into a semitrailer truck Thursday, police said.

Tara Marinez, 45, was identified by Joliet police officials as the driver who disregarded a red light on Houbolt Road and crashed into a semitrailer that was turning left on McDonough Street Thursday evening.

Marinez had a blood-alcohol content of about three times the legal limit, said Joliet Police Sgt. Dwayne English. She was arrested on a charge of driving under the influence.

“Officers learned that Marinez’s driver’s license was suspended due to a previous DUI charge,” English said.

Marinez was also on pretrial release in an aggravated battery case, English said.

Marinez’s vehicles had three passengers who were not injured in the crash, English said. The semitrailer driver was not injured either, he said.

Marinez has been taken to Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood for further treatment of her injuries.

Marinez was allowed release from jail on Nov. 7 after she was charged with aggravated battery of police officers who responded to a crash on Nov. 5 at Plainfield Road and Cleary Avenue.

A judge ordered Marinez to “not consume alcohol and be subject to portable breathalizer testing” before her court dates, court records show.

The events that led to Marinez arrest at that time occurred when her vehicle crashed into a light pole, English said.

“While speaking to officers, Marinez appeared to be visibly impaired by alcohol and was verbally aggressive toward officers,” English said.

Marinez was accused of kicking an officer twice in the leg and she was taken to the ground, English said.

She allegedly refused to cooperate with the booking process and made multiple threats to kill officers, English said.