Police: Drunk motorist crashes into cars, hospitalized

A 65-year-old motorist was hospitalized this weekend after he allegedly crashed into four vehicles and led police on a pursuit while driving intoxicated throughout the city.

The motorist, Thomas O’Kelly, was taken to Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center with internal injuries after finally stopping his blue Kia when he sideswiped a vehicle and rear-ended two others, according to Glendale Police reports.

Police said O’Kelly didn’t possess a valid California driver’s license, but had a license from Washington state, where he was convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol.

Witnesses reported O’Kelly’s erratic driving behavior just after 7 p.m., when he allegedly crashed into a vehicle on Colorado Street and Brand Boulevard and fled the scene.

A witness followed O’Kelly to Chestnut and Louise streets as police rushed to the area to take over.

Officers said O’Kelly was driving about 30 mph on Maple Street, near Louise, when he drove through a stop sign.

Officers activated their lights and sirens, but O’Kelly allegedly didn’t stop and continued driving through stop signs, according to police reports. Even in the residential neighborhood, police said O’Kelly accelerated to speeds in excess of 50 mph.

Police followed him to Brand and Chestnut where his Kia allegedly stuck a raised, cement island and came to a stop. O’Kelly allegedly accelerated his Kia again to Chestnut and Lomita avenues, where police said he struck another cement island, before speeding to more than 50 mph.

As he approached a red light at Colorado Street, which was packed with cars, O’Kelly failed to step on his brakes as he plowed into three vehicles, police said. The drivers in those vehicles did not report injuries.