Publications & Sites 
Vehicle gets ditched
A 2008 Dodge Nitro was found Aug. 8 in a Glencoe stormwater diversion ditch, where the water level was much lower than usual, due to the drought. | Tim Olk~for Sun-Times Media
Updated: September 17, 2012 12:47PM
GLENCOE — A Glencoe man apparently drove into a storm-water diversion ditch near the Skokie Country Club early Aug. 8, left his car there, walked home, and didn’t remember anything about it until a police officer showed up at his door.
Matthew R. Bodine of 400 Lincoln Ave. was charged with leaving the scene of an accident and driving off the road. He was released after posting $100 bond, pending a Sept. 19 court date.
The story reportedly changed a bit under questioning by police, but it appeared that Bodine, 21, had been partying at a friend’s house, where one of the activities was beer pong. He also reportedly admitted to taking hydrocodone pain-killing pills, according to authorities.
That activity might never have been publicly ascribed to Bodine had not his 2008 Dodge Nitro been found nosed into the water in the ditch, with tracks leading from the 700 block of Prairie Avenue, across a tee box, and down a bridge embankment to the ditch.
The car’s doors were above the waterline. The drought, according to police, kept the ditch much drier than normal, and may have been the difference between life and death for the driver.
When a police officer woke Bodine up, he reportedly had no memory of where his car was — even after seeing the cuts on his arms and legs and his ripped and muddy clothes.
His home is about six blocks from the scene.
