Ex-Westmont fire chief says he wasn't drunk

Westmont's former fire chief testified Wednesday that he had been drinking, but was not drunk when he drove into a parked car in December.

Frank Trout, 67, is facing a misdemeanor DUI charge stemming from the Dec. 30 accident about a mile from his home in Westmont.

Trout took the witness stand in DuPage County court Wednesday during a hearing on the suspension of his driver's license. He denied being intoxicated at the time of the crash but admitted drinking three beers earlier that day.

Sheriff's officers responded about 6:15 p.m. after Trout hit an unoccupied, parked car on the 3900 block of North Adams Street. Trout said he had been to a funeral and was trying to find the address for a related gathering.

“I was looking left and that's when I struck a vehicle,” he said, estimating his speed at 25 mph.

Earlier that day, Trout attended funeral services for a family friend. He said he drank two cans of beer and ate some pizza at a subsequent gathering at the Knights of Columbus hall in Westmont, then went with other mourners to a tavern across the street.

Trout said he did not drink alcohol at the second location, but afterward the group went to another bar, where he had a beer and a burger.

After the crash, Trout said he tracked down the owner of the parked car and told her he was the fire chief and that he had been drinking. On cross-examination, he denied telling her he was intoxicated.

Trout said he also identified himself as the fire chief and a former police officer to deputies at the scene, but only to “establish some credibility” as he explained what happened and that no one was hurt.

Trout told police he had been drinking but refused a breath test because he had a beer shortly beforehand, he said.

“I know the effects of consuming a drink with sobriety tests,” Trout said.

A Vietnam War veteran who survived a gunshot wound to the head, Trout was a Westmont police officer for 22 years and fire chief for 20. He was not on duty or driving a village vehicle at the time of the crash.

Westmont officials placed him on paid administrative leave following his arrest. Trout said Wednesday he was “forced” to retire a couple of weeks later.

The hearing before Judge Liam Brennan resumes Feb. 8. Trout also faces charges of driving too fast for conditions and failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident.