Articles Posted in Criminal Defense

Michael Villanueva, 25, was pronounced dead at the Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood after a DUI crash on the Eisenhower Expressway near Oak Park.

Villanueva was standing outside his vehicle, which had crashed into a wall on the expressway, when he was struck by an SUV driven by a 61 year old woman. The woman was charged with driving under the influence as a result of the crash.

Villanueva was initially taken to the west suburban hospital in critical condition and died more than a week later.

Annabella Loerop, 4, was killed when she was hit by a vehicle driven by an allegedly drunk teen.

The 17 year old, Deandre Wolf, has been charged with driving under the influence of marijuana and reckless homicide in the death of the four year old.

Wolf, 16 years old at the time of the incident, was driving a Buick when he struck Annabella as she ran into the street chasing after a ball.

Martin Candia, 31, was driving with a blood alcohol content of 0.095 when the parked SUV he crashed into pinned a 10-year-old boy between two vehicles. The boy, Calvin Santos, died later that morning.

Candia plead guilty to one count of aggravated DUI involving a death and was sentenced to 7 years in prison as a result of the May 2010 crash.

The boys father, Bulmaro Santos, wrote in an victim impact statement that since his son was killed, he has be tormented of thoughts of “what if.” Calvin was an energetic and respectful boy who enjoyed sports and dreamed of being an FBI agent because he wanted to “protect people.”

The Illinois Department of Transportation is reminding motorist to drive sober this Fourth of July weekend.

In an effort to ensure safe roadways and prevent DUI, the Illinois State Police along with over 300 local police and sheriff departments are conducting roadside safety checks as well as nighttime safety belt enforcement zones. Additionally, patrols will be on alert for impaired drivers and seat belt violators.

In 2009, there were 319 deaths in crashes involving an impaired driver. Last July 4th weekend, seven people lost their lives due to a drunk driver. The total financial cost associated with driving under the influence can be extremely high, along with possible jail time and the suspension and/or revocation of your driver’s license.

William McCann, 66, was walking home when a 2002 Dodge Neon hit him as he was crossing the street. McCann hit the windshield and fell to the ground. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver, after allegedly running over him and dragging him about 150 feet, stopped the car and took off running on foot. Off-duty Chicago Police Officer Zachary Cuatchon as well as another man identified as Adalberto Aceves, who were on the way home from work, witnessed the driver fleeing from the scene and took off after him. They were both able to tackle the driver and restrain him while a third man went to Cuatchon’s car to get his handcuffs.

Saul Chaves, 35, the driver of the vehicle, faces two felony charges, aggravated DUI and leaving the scene of an accident involving bodily injury or death.

Kimberly Bradley, 39, is facing felony and misdemeanor DUI charges after an accident that left two people in her vehicle dead and nine others also in the car injured. The 2003 Mazda SUV Bradley was driving northbound on South Kostner flipped when she attempted to pass the vehicle in front of hers and struck the car causing her to lose control of her vehicle and crash head-on into another vehicle in the oncoming lane of traffic.

Bradley’s vehicle flipped over, throwing several of the passengers who were not wearing seat belts from the SUV and entrapping others. All 11 people in her vehicle were injured and sent to the hospital suffering brain and lung injuries, broken bones, fractures, back injuries and lacerations. Three remained intubated on a ventilator in critical condition. The driver of the other vehicle was not hospitalized. Two of the victims, Jarrell Billingsley, 19, and a unidentified woman in her 40’s were pronounced dead at the hospital.

Cook County prosecutors say Bradley’s blood alcohol content after conversion was just over twice the legal limit at .165 percent. She signed a handwritten statement admitting to drinking beer that night and being the driver of the SUV. Bradley is charged with two counts of aggravated DUI involving an accident resulting in death, seven counts of aggravated DUI involving an accident resulting in great bodily harm, and one count of DUI involving an accident resulting in great bodily harm to a passenger under 16. She is also being charged with misdemeanor counts of DUI, driving on a suspended license, DUI blood alcohol content over 0.08 percent. Bradley received citations for driving to the left of center and operating a motor vehicle without insurance.