A man in La Salle is facing serious charges after he allegedly crashed his vehicle the night of March 16. The 31-year-old man was arrested by Illinois State Police under suspicion of drunk driving. Authorities have not announced a court date at this time, but it has been confirmed that he has been released from police custody.
According to the limited information available as of this report, around 11:31 p.m. the man was driving eastbound in Starved Rock State Park when, for reasons that are not yet clear, his vehicle left the road. It then struck a wood sign before overturning on an embankment. The extent of his injuries was unclear, but he was transported to a local hospital and later released.
However, police on the scene did charge him with DUI before transporting him to the hospital. The report does not clarify whether roadside sobriety or blood tests were conducted to verify their suspicion of his condition, though a blood test would likely have been performed at the hospital upon securing a warrant. Prosecutors will likely rely upon any evidence of an impermissible blood alcohol level when his court date comes up.
In order for a drunk driving charge to result in a conviction, Illinois prosecutors must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the man was intoxicated at the time of the crash. This requires proof of a .08 blood alcohol level, which may not always be corroborated by a blood or breath test. The man’s defense team will ensure this evidence is scrutinized and that the man’s legal rights are fully honored at every stage of the criminal proceedings.
Source: newstrib.com, “La Salle man charged with DUI following wreck in Starved Rock”, March 19, 2018
