Motorcyclist Injured In Crash, Driver Charged With Drunk Driving

A Mount Pleasant man, who was out on bail on a 2011 drunk driving charge, was arrested after he allegedly failed to stop at a stop sign in front of a motorcycle, which crashed into the car he was driving.

The motorcyclist had cut to his forehead, scraps to his legs and an injured wrist.

Jeffrey Jolly, 53, of Mount Pleasant, was charged by the Racine County Sheriff’s Department with a misdemeanor count drunk driving (3rd offense), a felony count drunk driving causing injury (second offense) and three counts of bail jumping, according to the criminal complaint.

If convicted, Jolly faces up to eight years fifteen days in prison, and fines up to $42,000.

Jolly has an open court case for a third drunk driving charge that he was out on bail on from Oct. 31, 2011 and he was court ordered not to consume alcohol. If convicted of that charge, this charge would be considered his fourth drunk driving charge.

According to the complaint, officers with the Caledonia Police Department responded to a personal injury crash between a motorcycle and red Taurus at 8:08 p.m. May 23 on Dunkelow Road and Morris St.

Jolly, who was driving the Taurus, pulled out in front of the motorcycle and had told police he had been drinking “too much.”

Disoriented and having a difficult time trying to stand up, Jolly wasn’t able to find his wallet or his driver’s license, and police noted the “Jolly spoke with heavy, slow, slurred speech and his eyes were bloodshot and glossy.”

Jolly told police he wouldn’t submit to a field sobriety test. He was arrested and taken to Wheaton Franciscan Hospital for a blood draw.

A passenger riding in Jolly’s car told police Jolly was driving the car westbound on Morris Street when they came to a two-way stop sign. Jolly pulled out in front of the motorcycle and the motorcycle struck the passenger front quarter panel and passenger front door, according to the criminal complaint.

The passenger got out of the car to help the motorcyclist, but Jolly stayed in the car. The passenger told police that Jolly had been drinking and probably had a warrant for another drunk driving ticket.