Drunk driver wreaks havoc on Chestnut St.

A drunk driver went on a 12-block rampage down Chestnut Street Friday night, leaving behind a trail of damaged cars between 51st and 39th streets, according to Philadelphia Police. The intoxicated driver of a brown Oldsmobile mainly hit parked cars. But a male driving a blue Honda CRX at 39th and Chestnut streets was injured and had to be extracted from his mangled car. The Honda driver, unaffiliated with Penn, was taken to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. He is listed in stable condition. Witnesses said the injured driver was conscious when he was pulled out of the car. After smashing into the Honda, the drunk driver hit a traffic light, causing it to fall over in the middle of the street. His ride finally came to an end when he crashed into a fence at 3700 Market Street, according to University Police. Philadelphia Police began pursuing the suspect at 45th and Chestnut streets. During the chase, the drunk driver attempted to ram into a University Police vehicle, University Police Sgt. Larry Salotti said. The driver was taken to HUP and later arrested and charged with aggravated assault. Salotti said the driver might have also been charged with other counts -- he ran through multiple red lights -- but the aggravated assault is the most serious charge and the "primary classification." Because of the crashes, Chestnut Street, between 38th and 39th streets, was blocked off for four hours Friday night, with cars being diverted down 40th Street. The traffic lights at the intersection of 39th and Chestnut streets were inoperative for a few hours as well. The driver also caused the breakdown of two live power lines, causing University and Philadelphia Police to rope off the area with yellow crime scene tape until the power company and a tow truck were able to attend to the scene. Many passersby stopped to look at the scene. Glass, plastics and metal debris were strewn all over the street, and a traffic light lay in the middle of the road. Because the the blue Honda was totally compacted, only a New Jersey license plate remained to identify the car. Fourth year Dental student Rob Drnach said he was watching television in his apartment in Chestnut Hall when he heard a loud crash, followed by the sound of about 10 police cars. "I felt that it was an awfully fast response," Drnach said.

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