Most adults in Illinois know that alcoholic drinks can severely impair a driver’s reflexes and decision-making abilities. Nonetheless, some drivers believe they are the exceptions to the rule. Unfortunately, such magical thinking often leads to drunk driving accidents with serious consequences not only for these drivers but also for others on the road.
A 39-year-old Aurora man now faces these consequences after netting six felony drunken-driving charges after allegedly causing two separate accidents just moments apart.
The initial crash occurred around 8:20 p.m. on Route 31 in Aurora. According to local police, the man rear-ended a pickup truck and then fled the scene, ignoring a red light. As he sped toward a major city bridge, he lost control of his car and collided head-on with a passenger car.
The female driver and three children sustained serious injuries and were taken to area hospitals for treatment. The alleged drunken driver was also injured and taken to a hospital. The pickup truck driver from the first crash was not hurt.
The alleged drunken driver later told police he was unsure if he had been involved in the first crash. He admitted that he had been driving too fast when he finally crashed.
Aside from the felony charges, the man faces charges for driving without insurance, driving with a revoked license, failure to decrease speed to prevent an accident and fleeing the scene of an accident. He was also cited for the second crash.
Intoxicated drivers should never drive. They are advised to wait until they are sober or have a designated driver or taxi drive them to their destination. If they insist on driving and cause an accident, they can be held liable by anyone they hurt. Injured victims are entitled to seek compensation to pay medical expenses, lost wages and pain and suffering.
Source: Aurora Beacon News, “Aurora man charged with DUI following head-on crash,” Erika Wurst, Mar. 11, 2014
