Young man allegedly causes fatal drunk driving accident

As we go into the holiday season, drunk driving accidents will likely become more frequent in Illinois and elsewhere. While people are not expected to miss all the fun associated with this time of the year, authorities do caution that a designated driver should be used whenever they plan to travel after consuming alcohol. Even a single drunk driving accident that claims a life is one too many.

A 65-year-old woman lost her life in a car accident in St. Charles on a recent Friday afternoon. Police said that the woman was northbound on a local roadway when the vehicle operated by a southbound driver crossed the median. He reportedly smashed head-on into the woman’s car, causing critical injuries. According to reports, she was rushed to a hospital in critical condition and later succumbed to her injuries.

The 23-year-old southbound driver was taken into custody and, at last report, was awaiting a bail hearing in the county jail. Police said that he will face several charges, including aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs, along with controlled substance possession. It was apparently determined that his driver’s license had been revoked, and this was added to the charges, along with improper use of traffic lanes.

The family members of the woman who lost her life in this drunk driving accident are entitled to pursue a claim financial losses, including medical costs and end-of-life expenses. They may initiate a wrongful death lawsuit against the alleged drunk driver in an Illinois civil court. Upon proper proof of alleged negligence and successful presentation of the damages claim, the court may award a monetary judgment to cover the losses related to this tragic accident.

Source: Chicago Tribune, “Man charged with DUI in fatal St. Charles accident“, Michelle Manchir, Nov. 29, 2014