Girl seriously injured by teen driver in Minooka

• Reprints

Updated: January 23, 2012 3:56AM

MINOOKA — A girl suffered serious injuries when she was struck by a pickup Sunday.

Police Chief Justin Meyer said the accident happened at 6:48 p.m. at McEvilly and Bell Roads where there are no sidewalks.

The victim, whose age was not released, was transported to Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center in Joliet and later transported to Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago in serious condition. One report indicated she is in a coma.

The driver, who was identified as a teenage boy, did not have any passengers in his truck. It did not appear that drugs or alcohol were a factor.

“The crash is being investigated and no charges have been filed at this time,” Meyer said.

Train kills girl, 16

PEOTONE — A 16-year-old girl who was struck and killed by a freight train Saturday night has been identified.

The Canadian National Railway reported a pedestrian walked in the path of a southbound freight train that was bound for Memphis at 11:30 p.m. Saturday.

“The accident occurred on tracks near the 400 block of West Street, not at a rail crossing,” Police Chief Bill Mort said.

Justyna P. Kmetty, a sophomore at Peotone High School, was identified from “the serial numbers on an orthopedic implant,” the Will County coroner’s office said Monday.

Firebomb arrest

JOLIET — Witnesses who saw a 12-year-old boy with Molotov cocktails called police around 8 p.m. Saturday to the 500 block of Elmwood, Chief Mike Trafton said.

“Officers responded and found a bottle with a flammable liquid and a paper wick. A family name and address were printed on the paper,” Trafton said. “Officers went to the residence and found the boy who was identified as the suspect.”

The youth was arrested on a charge of possession of an incendiary device and booked into the River Valley Juvenile Detention Center.

Drugs seized

MINOOKA — Police say a driver was going too fast Wednesday even with an extra 16 pounds of marijuana weighing down the car.

An officer on patrol at 5:47 p.m. stopped a Mercury Grand Marquis that was going a few miles over the speed limit at Ridge Road and Interstate 80, Chief Justin Meyer said.

“The driver was given a verbal warning, but as the officer asked some questions, the driver and a passenger, Maksim Ananin, gave conflicting statements which raised suspicion,” Meyer said.

Police were given permission to search the car and reportedly found packaged cannabis inside the front and rear bumpers.

Anain, 31, of Hamden, Conn., allegedly claimed the cannabis and was booked into the Grundy County jail.

In police news:

Hector Gonzalez-Salazar: 47, of 202 Western Ave. in Joliet, was arrested by sheriff’s police and booked into the county jail Friday on charges of possession of fraudulent identification and driving without a valid license.

Larry D. Mitchell: 21, of 432 Prior St. in Joliet, was arrested by Joliet police and booked into the county jail Saturday on charges of delivery of cannabis and criminal trespassing.

Andres Gonzalez: 27, of 906 Elizabeth St. in Joliet, and Eusebio D. Arreola, 30, of 727 Richards St. in Joliet, were arrested by Joliet police and booked into the county jail Saturday on charges of delivery of a controlled substance.

Efrain Gomez-Favela: 25, of 1403 Cecilia Ave. in Joliet, was arrested by sheriff’s police and booked into the county jail Saturday on charges of driving under the influence of alcohol, driving without a valid license and operating an uninsured motor vehicle.