Police: Drunk Man Crashes Into Semi

A Woodridge man was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol after he rear-ended a semi truck at the intersection of Maple Road and Halsted Street just after 2 a.m. on Nov. 22, according to police. 

Michael Rinkenberger, 32, of the 2800 block of Forest Glen in Woodridge, was waiting in his car after the accident when police arrived, according to reports. Police say Rinkenberger’s breath smelled of alcohol and that he was unable to stand without using his car for support. He failed an eye movement field sobriety test, according to reports.

According to the report, Rinkenberger refused medical treatment and was transported to the Homewood Police Station, where he agreed to speak with officers. Additional details have been redacted, but charges indicate he took a breath alcohol test. Rinkenberger was charged with the following, according to police reports:

• Driving under the influence of alcohol
• Driving with a blood alcohol content of .08 or higher
• Failure to reduce speed to avoid accident

Rinkenberger was released on bond. He has a Dec. 13 court date at Markham Courthouse.

Police report information is provided by the Homewood Police Department and other law enforcement agencies. Charges are not evidence of guilt. They are a record of police actions on a given day, and persons charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court. If you or a family member are charged or cited and the case is subsequently adjudicated, we encourage you to notify the editor. We will verify and report the outcome.