BARRINGTON HILLS, Ill. (STMW) – A Barrington Hills man has pleaded guilty to a northwest suburban DUI crash that killed an Elgin man and injured two other people in March 2013.

Karsten Eilertsen, 19, entered a blind plea of guilty to two counts of aggravated DUI for the March 3, 2013, crash in Barrington Hills. His Chevrolet Suburban was traveling north on Route 59 about 3 p.m. when it sideswiped a southbound Toyota just south of Route 68, according to police.

The driver of the Toyota, a 57-year-old woman, was injured, police said.

Eilertsen’s vehicle then hit a Dodge Intrepid head-on, killing the driver, 61-year-old Ronald Ziolo, of Elgin, according to police. A passenger in Ziolo’s car, a 44-year-old woman from Orlando, Fla., was treated at St. Alexius Hospital in Hoffman Estates, but continues to experience problems with a foot injury, police said.

Barrington Hills police investigated the case with assistance from the Major Crash Assistance Team of Lake County. Marijuana, drug paraphernalia and a prescription bottle for Adderall were found in Eilertsen’s vehicle, police said.

The blind plea means that attorneys from each side agreed to let a judge determine Eilertsen’s sentence on Aug. 7, according to a spokesman for the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office. The two sides could not agree to a sentence as part of the plea, the spokesman explained.

He faces a potential sentence of three to 14 years in prison for a charge of aggravated DUI causing death, and one to 12 years for a charge of aggravated DUI causing bodily harm.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2014. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

CHICAGO (CBS) – A guitarist for popular local band Bloodiest was ordered held in lieu of $200,000 bail Tuesday for allegedly running over and killing a pedestrian while driving drunk.

Six hours after Sean Patrick Riley hit 55-year-old Jose Serrano in the 2700 block of North Avenue Sunday night, his blood alcohol level measured at .161 — twice the state’s legal .08 limit, Cook County prosecutors said.

Riley initially refused to take a field sobriety test a half-hour after the 8:24 p.m. accident, according to a police report.

But he submitted to a Breathalyzer around 3:30 a.m., the report said.

When an officer asked Riley if he had been drinking that night, Riley allegedly said, “I’ve had a few.”

An off-duty Chicago Police officer who was driving east on North Avenue saw Riley hit Serrano with his truck while Serrano was in the crosswalk, walking south on the street, Assistant State’s Attorney Glen Runk said.

Riley, who also was driving east on North Avenue, didn’t appear to apply the brakes of his car or swerve out of the way of Serrano as he traveled 40 miles per hour, Runk said.

Riley, 33, pulled over on Talman Avenue in a “dazed physical state” and was seen walking toward Serrano, who was lying on the street, the police report said.

When officers arrived, they smelled alcohol on Riley’s breath, Runk said.

Riley, who has a driver’s license from Montana, also allegedly was slurring his speech and had bloodshot eyes.

He had no insurance when he was behind the wheel, Runk said.

Serrano, of the 2100 block of west 52nd Street, suffered a broken leg, broken foot, broken arm and died from massive head trauma, Runk said.

Riley is a graduate of the Art Institute of Chicago and works two jobs, according to Assistant Public Defender Edward Koziboski.

Riley, of the 1400 block of Bell Avenue, cannot drive or use social media if he can post bond, Judge Peggy Chiampas ordered.

Riley’s friends refused comment following Tuesday’s bond hearing.

Bloodiest describes itself on Facebook as “scaring the goofy sunglasses and mustaches right off of the hipsters. The singer is possessed. Guitars. F— yeah.”

The band was a runner-up for best metal band in The Reader’s “Best of Chicago” issue last year.

Riley’s next court date wasn’t immediately known.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2014. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

CHICAGO (STMW) – A Geneva man accused of being drunk when his car plunged into a west suburban Naperville pond initially pointed the finger at his two friends who drowned as a result of the crash, according to prosecutors.

Michael Szot, 21, told police “he had given his keys to irresponsible friends” after the trio spent several hours drinking at a Naperville bar, prosecutors stated in a recent court filing. Investigators used a seat-belt bruise, and other evidence, to determine Szot was behind the wheel of his 2007 Chevy Impala at the time of the crash during the early morning hours of July 19.

Sajaad Syed, 21, of Naperville, and Mihirtej Boddupalli, 21, of Lisle, drowned when the car sunk 40 feet to the bottom of a water-filled quarry near downtown Naperville.

A DuPage County grand jury indicted Szot on multiple count of aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs last week. Szot, who is free on $250,000 bail, is scheduled to return to court next month.

Court records indicate Szot’s blood-alcohol content level was .14 — above the state’s legal limit of .08 — at the hospital after the crash. Subsequent toxicology reports showed his BAC to be at .096, while Szot also tested positive for marijuana in his system, court documents show. Prosecutors attempted to have Szot’s bail increased after the results were learned, but a judge declined to raise the amount or place him on home confinement or have hime placed on GPS tracking.

Szot and his two friends arrived at a Naperville bar between 8:30 and 9:30 p.m. on July 18 and remained into the early hours of July 19. Before leaving around 1:30 a.m., Szot drank eight or nine beers, as well as rum shots, prosecutors said. He had also smoked marijuana during the course of the night, according to prosecutors.

Just before 2 a.m., a witness reported seeing Szot’s car pass her vehicle like a “white streak” near Eagle Street and Aurora Avenue. The Impala then went off the road, through a fence and down an embankment into the water-filled quarry.

“(Szot) escaped from the driver’s side window leaving his two passengers trapped alive in his sinking car,” prosecutors wrote in the bond-increase motion.

At the hospital, Szot asked if “his car was drowning” but did not ask about his friends, the documents state.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2014. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

CHICAGO (STMW) – Jurors heard graphic details of a fatal head-on crash and allegations of bizarre behavior from the defendant during opening statements Tuesday in the first-degree murder trial of Mark Oelerich.

Oelerich, of Mundelein, is accused of deliberately crashing the Cadillac SUV he was driving at speeds in excess of 65 mph into a minivan driven by 24-year-old Araceli Villasenor of Round Lake Beach, killing her and injuring her three children.

“This was no accident. No accident occurred on Nov. 21, 2012,” Assistant State’s Attorney Michael Ori told the jury. “This defendant turned his car directly into the path of their car.”

Ori said Oelerich, 23, admitted to being high on drugs, including using the hallucinogenic DMT prior to the crash. Oelrich also allegedly admitted to smoking synthetic marijuana, which Ori said was found in his urine in subsequent tests.

Police and prosecutors previously said Oelerich made statements about being invincible and testing mortality when he allegedly caused the crash on Cedar Lake Road north of Route 120 in the Round Lake area.

Ori said the first police officer to the scene was “horrified” to find Villasenor pinned by the front of her Nissan Quest and the steering wheel, eyes open and “gurgling.”

The children were screaming in the van, Ori said.

By the time police safely removed the children from the van, the driver of the other vehicle had left, Ori said.

Oelerich was found by police walking down the street nearby and it took seven officers to subdue him and take him into custody, Ori said.

Oelerich is charged with first-degree murder and aggravated DUI. He also faces several counts of aggravated battery to a peace officer and resisting arrest related to a scuffle with corrections officers while in custody of the Lake County Jail, where he has remained in lieu of $1 million bond since his arrest.

Defense attorney Elliot Pinsel told the jury there is no dispute over the location of the crash, the speed involved, Villasenor’s death or her children’s injuries. Pinsel said testimony from a psychologist and video of Oelerich’s behavior in custody following the crash will prove he was suffering from a “complete break from reality.”

“He lacked the requisite knowledge involved to commit first-degree murder,” Pinsel said.

Right after the crash, Oelrich said “I cannot die. Life is good,” according to Pinsel.

Oelrich allegedly also told arresting officers that he was walking home, and “walking to Italy.” Pinsel then told the jury it took multiple officers using stun guns before they could get Oelerich into handcuffs.

In a holding cell in Round Lake, Pinsel said Oelrich removed all his clothes and said he believed “God told him to do it.” He also was seen striking the walls, chanting and meditating. Pinsel said Oelrich was still naked when officers attempted to interview him eight hours later, and that he was completely delusional, making statements like “I’ve been letting demons run my life.”

Pinsel said Oelerich’s mental health began deteriorating in March 2012, when he began to worry about government conspiracies and was afraid of being put under “martial law.”

“He’d hear songs on the radio and think they were about him,” Pinsel said. “He wouldn’t brush his teeth because he thought the water was poisoned by the government.”

The trial is scheduled to continue Wednesday.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2014. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

CHICAGO (STMW) – A man is facing multiple DUI charges in connection with a Northwest Side crash that left a pedestrian dead Tuesday evening.

Maciej Machniewicz, 45, was driving south on Austin Avenue about 6:40 p.m. before “abruptly” turning east onto Belmont Avenue, according to a statement from Chicago Police.

In the process, the vehicle he was driving hit another southbound vehicle and forced it to crash into a third vehicle, police said.

The vehicle Machniewicz was driving then hit a traffic box, a light pole, a fence and a pedestrian before coming to a rest, police said.

The pedestrian, 62-year-old Lida Xhelo, of the 6000 lock of West Eddy, was taken to Our Lady of the Resurrection Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead at 7:03 p.m., according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

An autopsy Wednesday found she died of multiple injuries from an automobile striking a pedestrian and ruled her death an accident, the medical examiner’s office said.

Machniewicz, of the 4400 block of West Barry, is charged with a felony count of aggravated DUI causing a fatal accident, two misdemeanor counts of driving under the influence of alcohol and a misdemeanor count of driving when he had never been issued a driver’s license, police said. He was also issued multiple traffic citations.

Machniewicz is expected to appear in bond court Thursday, according to police.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2014. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

CHICAGO (STMW) – A North Side man has been charged in connection with a hit-and-run crash that left two men dead Saturday night in the West Side Humboldt Park neighborhood.

Jose Estrada, 24, faces two felony counts of aggravated DUI resulting in death, two misdemeanor DUI counts, and one citation for failure to reduce speed, according to Chicago Police.

Raman Cruz, 36, and Pablo Esquivel-Vega, thought to be in his 50s, were in a crosswalk about 10:10 p.m. in the 4300 block of West North Avenue when they were both struck by the 2002 Buick, according to police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Estrada tried to speed away in the Buick, but then crashed into three parked vehicles near North and Kedvale and was later taken into custody, police said.

Jose Estrada (Credit: Chicago Police)

Cruz and Esquivel-Vega were pronounced dead at the scene minutes later, according to the medical examiner’s office. Their home addresses were not available early Monday.

Autopsies on Sunday found both men died of multiple injuries from being hit by the car and their deaths were ruled accidents.

Estrada, of the 1200 block of North Kedzie, is scheduled to appear in bond court Monday.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2015. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

CHICAGO (STMW) – A man has been charged with driving under the influence in connection with a fatal rollover crash that occurred on Lake Shore Drive near the Lincoln Park Zoo early Monday, police said.

Rafael Rodriguez, 42, was charged with aggravated driving under the influence causing an accident or death, misdemeanor driving under the influence, driving without a license, driving on a suspended license as well as a citation for failure to reduce speed and stay in a lane, police announced late Tuesday.

About 1:40 a.m. Monday, Rodriguez was driving south “at a high rate of speed” in the 2200 block of North Lake Shore Drive. He lost control of the vehicle, hit a guard rail and then a tree before the vehicle came to a rest on its roof on top of a frozen lagoon, police said.

A passenger in the vehicle, 37-year-old Claudia Beruben, of the 12400 block of South Laflin in Calumet Park was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where she was later pronounced dead, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Rodriguez, of the 3900 block of North Ashland, remained hospitalized at Illinois Masonic Medical Center Tuesday, police said.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2015. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

CHICAGO (STMW) – A man was charged with DUI in connection with a crash Thursday afternoon that killed a pedestrian and left two other people injured in the West Garfield Park neighborhood.

Harry Clemons, 35, has been charged with aggravated DUI involving a death, aggravated DUI resulting in bodily harm, failure to reduce speed, failure to exercise due care to avoid colliding with a pedestrian, operating a motor vehicle without insurance and driving on a revoked license, according to Chicago Police.

On Sunday, Clemons was ordered held on a $500,000 bond, according to the Cook County sheriff’s office.

About 1:20 p.m. Thursday, Clemons was driving a Cadillac Seville northbound in the 300 block of South Pulaski Road when his car struck a pedestrian, then several parked vehicles, police said.

The pedestrian, 41-year-old Andrew Smith, of the 1900 block of South St. Louis Avenue, was take to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 1:54 p.m., according to police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office. An autopsy Friday ruled his death an accident.

A 44-year-old man who was sitting in the Cadillac’s front passenger seat suffered a shattered left leg and internal injuries, police said. He was taken in serious condition to Mount Sinai Hospital.

A 35-year-old woman who was sitting in the back seat was taken to Stroger Hospital, where she was treated and released, police said.

Clemons, of the 4200 block of West Congress Parkway, suffered head injuries in the crash, and was taken in serious condition to Stroger Hospital, police said.

Clemons’ next court appearance is scheduled for Monday.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2015. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

CHICAGO (STMW) – A man is facing several charges after he crashed a stolen vehicle early Monday outside an Englewood gas station, injuring himself and two others.

Deonta T. Carson, 19, is charged with felony vehicular hijacking, two felony counts of aggravated DUI, two misdemeanor counts of resisting a peace officer, one misdemeanor count each of DUI and violating parole; and two traffic citations, according to Chicago Police.

Carson was speeding southbound on Halsted Street in a stolen silver SUV when he crashed, striking a car in the intersection at 71st Street, police said. The car then struck a light pole before stopping, police said.

Carson was taken to Holy Cross Hospital, where his condition stabilized, police said.

The 19-year-old woman driving the car and a 36-year-old man who was her passenger were also hurt and taken to Stroger Hospital, police said. Their injuries were not thought to be life-threatening.

Carson, of the 5700 block of South Green, was ordered held on a $750,000 bond and will next appear in court Monday, court records show.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2015. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

CHICAGO (STMW) – The family of a man from India who was fatally struck by a truck last summer while visiting south suburban Tinley Park has filed a lawsuit against the 23-year-old who allegedly fled the scene after the crash.

Rajendrakumar Shah, who was in the United States for a wedding and to visit family in Tinley Park, died June 6, 2013—his 61st birthday—after being hit by a pickup at 9:13 p.m. while crossing 159th Street at 80th Avenue in Tinley Park, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Shah, who was staying with family in the 16100 block of Kensington Avenue, died about 10 p.m. that night at Palos Community Hospital, the medical examiner’s office said. An autopsy ruled his death an accident.

Nimisha Shah, who has been appointed administrator of Rajendrakumar Shah’s estate, filed the wrongful death lawsuit Thursday in Cook County Circuit Court against the man charged in connection with the hit-and-run crash and the woman who owned the truck.

Michael T. Epley, of the 2200 block of Prairie Street in Blue Island, was charged with aggravated driving under the influence of drugs, and failure to stop after having an accident involving personal injury or death, according to Tinley Park police. He was also cited for various traffic offenses.

Epley was ordered held on a $250,000 bond and is next scheduled to appear at the Bridgeview courthouse April 17, court records show.

The suit alleges Epley was driving a Ford F-150 at the time of the crash and was negligent when the truck struck Rajendrakumar Shah.

Epley failed to keep a proper lookout for a pedestrian; operated his vehicle at an excessive rate of speed; failed to sound his horn before the crash; and, among other things, failed to render aid to the injured party, according to the suit.

Rajendrakumar Shah is survived by his wife and three children, the suit said.

The two-count suit seeks an undisclosed amount in damages.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2015. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

CHICAGO (STMW) — A northwest Indiana woman has been charged with murder after a drunken fight with her husband early Sunday led to a five-car crash that killed a pedestrian on the South Side, police said.

Shikita Woods, 33, got into a fight with her 28-year-old husband about 3 a.m. in the 5500 block of South State Street, police said.

Her husband took off in a car and Woods followed in another vehicle, intentionally crashing into it, police said.

The car Woods’ husband was in struck at least three other vehicles, caromed off a light pole and hit 51-year-old Brent Nelson, who was standing on the sidewalk, according to police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Nelson was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he later died, authorities said.

Woods’ husband and the driver of their car were taken to Mercy Hospital and Medical Center, where their conditions stabilized, police said.

Woods was arrested and charged with first-degree murder, aggravated DUI, reckless homicide. She also faces misdemeanor charges of DUI and driving on a revoked license, in addition to numerous traffic citations, police said.

Woods, of the 800 block of West 19th Avenue in Gary, is scheduled to appear in bond court Tuesday afternoon.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2015. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

CHICAGO (STMW) — A Cicero man has been charged with driving under the influence of a controlled substance in connection with a crash in 2013 that killed a 3-year-old boy in the Archer Heights neighborhood on the Southwest Side.

Erick Ochoa, 24, has been charged with a felony count of aggravated DUI involving a death, according to a statement from Chicago Police. He was also cited for driving on a suspended license and failing to stop at a stop sign.

About 10:20 p.m. on July 20, 2013, 3-year-old Jimmy Lomas ran onto the street from between two parked cars and was struck by Ochoa’s vehicle, police said.

Lomas, of the 300 block of 27th Avenue in Bellwood, was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn where he was pronounced dead at 11:11 p.m., according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Ochoa, of the 1300 block of South 50th Avenue in Cicero, was initially cited after the crash with failure to yield to a pedestrian in the roadway, but the investigation later determined he had been under the influence of a controlled substance, police said.

He was arrested Sunday after he was stopped for a traffic violation, police said. Ochoa is scheduled to appear in bond court Tuesday.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2015. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

CHICAGO (STMW) — An 18-year-old man has been charged in connection with a crash that left two people dead—another teen and a 56-year-old Metra employee—in south suburban Calumet City early Saturday.

David Peden, 18, is charged with reckless homicide and aggravated DUI causing death, according to the Cook County state’s attorney’s office. He was ordered held on a $40,000 bond Tuesday and is next scheduled to appear in court June 8.

The crash happened in 700 block of State Street at 6:40 a.m., Calumet City Police Chief Edward Gilmore said.

Peden was driving home from the prom with two teenage boys, including 18-year-old Aaron K. Dunigan, when his westbound vehicle crossed the center line and struck an eastbound vehicle, driven by Juan Jose Rivera, authorities said.

Dunigan, of the 800 block of 163rd Street in Calumet City, was pronounced dead at the scene at 7:26 a.m., the Cook County medical examiner’s office said.

Rivera was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where he was pronounced dead at 7:33 a.m., the medical examiner’s office said. He lived in the 600 block of Ingraham Avenue in Calumet City.

Aaron Dunigan. (Source: Twitter)

Dunigan was a senior at Thornton Fractional North High School in Calumet City, Principal Dwayne Evans said in a statement on the school’s website. He had played quarterback for the football team.

“It is with a heavy heart that the TF North community announces the death of one of our senior Meteors, Aaron Dunigan,” Evans said. “Please keep all families involved in your thoughts and prayers.”

Rivera was a longtime Metra employee who was on his way to work at the time of the crash, according to a Metra spokesperson.

“Juan was a very dedicated and valued employee who will be sorely missed by all at Metra who work with him,” CEO Donald Orseno said in a statement. “Our heartfelt condolences go out to his family and friends during this difficult time.”

Rivera was a track inspector on the Electric District line, Metra spokeswoman Meg Reile said. He had worked for railroads for the last 37 years.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2015. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

CHICAGO (CBS) — A 22-year-old man from Country Club Hills has been charged with several felonies, after fleeing the scene of a crash that killed two teenage passengers in Park Forest earlier this week.

Around 12:30 a.m. Wednesday, a car crashed into a tree near Western Avenue and Algonquin Street, killing a 15-year-old boy and a 16-year-old boy who were inside the car.

The driver ran off after the crash, but later showed up at St. James Hospital in Chicago Heights. Police said he did not report the crash when he arrived at the hospital, and said his injuries were not from a crash.

The hospital called Chicago Heights police, who saw his injuries were consistent with a car crash, and notified Park Forest police, who arrested him.

Jonathan Hurst (Credit: Park Forest Police)

The driver, 22-year-old Jonathan Hurst, has been charged with two counts of reckless homicide, two counts of aggravated DUI, and one count of leaving the scene of a fatal accident.

He was due to appear for a bond hearing on Friday at the Markham Courthouse.

Authorities have not released the names of the two boys who were killed in the crash.

UPDATE: 3:42 p.m.

CHICAGO (STMW) —An 18-year-old man had spent the night drinking and hanging out with a 20-year-old friend before it all ended in a fatal drag racing incident, prosecutors claimed on Monday.

Ivan Sanchez, 18, of the 1500 block of West Bryn Mawr Avenue, was charged with reckless homicide for the early Saturday crash that killed Jose Luzianos Jr., authorities said. Sanchez also faces one count of aggravated DUI, four misdemeanor counts of DUI, and several traffic citations.

It started Friday night when Sanchez, Luzianos and three others spent time hanging out at different parking lots, prosecutors said. At some point the group went to a spot on Lower Wacker Drive to “check out each others’ cars, do doughnuts and burnouts.”

That hangout led into early Saturday after Sanchez and Luziano drank Modelo beers, prosecutors said.

After visiting Lower Wacker Drive one more time about 3 a.m., witnesses told police the group decided to drive away: Sanchez in his 2005 Jeep Laredo in front, Luziano second in line in a 1999 BMW, and the two witnesses behind them in a Range Rover.

Sanchez and Luziano started drag racing down Lower Wacker. Sanchez sped past Luziano, who tried to drive his BMW between Sanchez’s Jeep and a third vehicle not involved the race in attempt to get ahead, prosecutors said.

But his BMW fishtailed, clipped the Jeep, spun out and struck two support beams.

The Jeep also crashed into a support beam, prosecutors said. The vehicles came to a rest in the westbound lanes of Lower Wacker near Garvey Court, prosecutors said.

Witnesses and an unknown bystander called for help. Emergency responders smelled alcohol on Sanchez, who later admitted drinking. His blood alcohol concentration was measured at .148, prosecutors said, which is 1.85 times the legal limit.

Both men were taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Luzianos died there, while Sanchez was treated and released, authorities said.

Luziano, of the 1500 block of West Hollywood, died of multiple blunt-force injuries, and an autopsy ruled his death an accident, according to the medical examiner’s office.

On Monday, Cook County Judge Peggy Chiampas ordered Sanchez held on a $150,000 bond, with home confinement if he bails out, officials said. He’s next scheduled to appear in court Aug. 7.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2015. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

CHICAGO (STMW) — An off-duty Chicago Police officer now faces a felony DUI charge after his car struck and critically injured a woman last month in the Belmont Heights neighborhood on the Northwest Side.

Erin Mowry, 40, is charged with aggravated DUI causing bodily harm, police said. The two-year CPD veteran initially faced misdemeanor counts of DUI and a traffic ticket for the crash that happened about 1:20 a.m. on July 18.

A 29-year-old woman was crossing the street in the 7500 block of West Belmont when she was hit by a 1997 Mercedes, police said at the time.

The woman, who was in the crosswalk when she was hit, was taken to Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood in critical condition, police said.

After the crash, the officer was relieved of police powers pending the outcome of an investigation by the police Major Accidents Investigation Unit.

Mowry turned himself in for the upgraded felony charge Wednesday night. He is scheduled to appear in bond court Thursday.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2015. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

CHICAGO (STMW) — The second man accused of street racing and crashing into a minivan, killing two parents and injuring their three children, was ordered held on $1 million bail Tuesday.

Douglas McGrew, a 25-year-old Robbins man, had been hospitalized after the Thursday evening crash in a residential neighborhood of the south suburb, according to Robbins police.

McGrew faces reckless homicide charges along with 41-year-old Lynwood resident Craig Stevenson, whose bail also was set at $1 million at a Sunday hearing.

Craig Stevenson. (Credit: Cook County Sheriff.)

Stevenson allegedly was behind the wheel of a Nissan Altima racing McGrew’s Buick Regal north on Central Park Avenue when both cars blew a stop sign and collided with a minivan heading west at the intersection with 137th Street, Cook County prosecutors said.

The minivan’s 43-year-old driver, Cherise Davis-Jones, and her 59-year-old husband, Less Jones – both of the 13400 block of South Hamlin in Robbins – were pronounced dead within hours of the crash.

Their three children in the back seat — ages 6, 7 and 8 — suffered injuries ranging from bruises to a broken leg, police said.

Less Jones III, Cherise Davis-Jones, and their three children, Chloe, Josh, and Less Jones IV. (Family Photo)

McGrew was also charged with two counts of aggravated DUI. He appeared in court Tuesday, where his bond was set at $1 million, according to the Cook County sheriff’s office.

Both men are due back in court Sept. 18.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2015. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

CHICAGO (CBS) — Felony drunk driving charges have been filed against a 66-year-old woman who allegedly spent the day drinking on Monday, and then struck an 8-year-old boy riding his bike.

The boy was riding his bicycle in front of his home in the 300 block of Eastgrove Road in Riverside around 5 p.m. Monday, when Cynthia Grosse, of Lyons, struck him in front of his 6- and 11-year-old siblings, according to Riverside Police Chief Tom Weitzel.

Police said Grosse admitted she had drunk two or three beers while working as a caretaker for an elderly person in LaGrange Park, then drove to visit a friend in Oak Park, where she continued drinking. She also allegedly admitted drinking more beer as she drove home, before striking the child in Riverside.

“This female had been drinking all day, by her own admission. She had open alcohol in the car. I mean, when she struck the boy, she did stop, but she was really quite out of it,” Weitzel said.

Weitzel said police officers found Grosse sitting on the curb at the scene. She allegedly failed all field sobriety tests.

“She had a very cavalier attitude about the whole incident, at least the initial day. I don’t think she really did realize what had happened until about 24 hours after she was in our custody,” he said.

The boy was rushed to Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, where he was placed in a medically-induced coma to relieve swelling on his brain.

“I think he is going to pull through, but it is going to be a long haul for that young man. That is going to be no easy recovery,” Weitzel said.

The boy was in serious condition on Thursday.

Grosse has been charged with aggravated DUI involving great bodily harm, failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, and transportation of open alcohol.

CHICAGO (STMW) — A wrong-way driver has been charged in a crash that injured six people on I-94 in south suburban South Holland early Saturday.

The crash occurred at about 2:30 a.m. when a car was traveling north in the southbound lanes of I-94 near 159th Street, according to Illinois State Police. Three other vehicles were also involved in the crash.

The 22-year-old wrong-way driver was charged with aggravated DUI Sunday, police said.

Six people were transported to hospitals after the crash, although none of their injuries appeared to be life-threatening, state police said. The wrong-way driver was taken to Franciscan St. Margaret Health in Indiana.

The driver of a second vehicle, a 35-year-old woman, was also taken to St. Margaret, according to state police. A 16-year-old boy who was a passenger in the vehicle was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn.

Another passenger, a 14-year-old boy, was taken to University of Chicago Comer Children’s Hospital in critical condition, although state police said his injuries weren’t life-threatening.

Two other drivers, a 45-year-old man and a 46-year-old woman, were also taken to St. Margaret, state police said.

Lanes in both directions were closed as crews worked to clear the scene, but were reopened at 7:15 a.m., according to state police.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2015. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

CHICAGO (STMW) — A north suburban man was sentenced to 10 years in prison Monday for driving drunk and causing a head-on crash that killed a Glenview couple more than two years ago.

Daniel Shmelevich, 30, pleaded guilty Monday to two counts of aggravated DUI involving an accident causing death, according to Cook County court records. Judge Lauren Gottainer Edidin sentenced Shmelevich to 10 years.

Emergency crews found two cars with crumpled front ends in the 1000 block of South Milwaukee Avenue in Glenview when they responded about 2:40 p.m. on Sept. 22, 2013, police said at the time. The driver of a 2001 Toyota Camry, later identified as Shmelevich, was being tended to on a sidewalk, and his injuries were not life-threatening.

The driver of a 2012 Kia Soul, 37-year-old Sean O’Brien, was removed from the car and died a few minutes later at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital, authorities said.

His wife, Lisa O’Brien, 34, died Oct. 10 at the same hospital, authorities said. Police said the wreckage of the Kia had to be cut away to rescue her.

Shmelevich, of the 10300 block of Michael Todd Terrace in Glenview, will receive credit for 834 days served in the Cook County jail, where he was been held without bond since his arrest.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2016. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)