Illinois police arrested a man shortly after a hit-and-run accident they believe to be his fault. Facing several different allegations, including drunk driving and other charges related to the accident, he is currently still in police custody. A judge set bail for $1 million and also ordered that he enroll in a smartphone program that monitors alcohol use in the event that he bonds out.
The 37-year-old man was allegedly drinking at two different locations before he returned to his vehicle in the early hours of the morning. Around that same time — approximately 3:30 a.m. — a father and son had just parked their vehicle after arriving at work. Before they could exit the vehicle, the alleged drunk driver struck them from behind, killing the one man and injuring the other. Police believe he was driving at nearly 130 mph.
At least one witness claimed that the driver exited his vehicle and fled the scene of the accident. Authorities initiated a search for the driver and found him less than an hour later, and had an eyewitness confirm his identity. He was then taken to the hospital to receive treatment for injuries that he suffered in the wreck, and at some point submitted to a Breathalyzer or blood test to determine his blood-alcohol content, which was apparently .25.
Drunk driving charges are a serious enough matter on their own, but can be doubly so when combined with other criminal allegations. This Illinois man is faced with a felony aggravated DUI, improper lane usage and several other charges that could put him behind bars for up to 14 years. Minimizing the consequences of criminal allegations is important to most defendants, and this can often be achieved through a timely response that considers all the charges and related evidence.
Source: Tinley Park, Patch, “Driver Charged In Fatal Tinley DUI Crash Was Driving 128mph: Prosecutor“, Lorraine Swanson, Oct. 12, 2017