An Illinois man was recently indicted for his alleged role in a fatal pedestrian accident, although he is not yet in police custody. He is facing a single count for leaving the scene of a fatal accident and eight counts for aggravated drunk driving. His blood-alcohol content — BAC — was allegedly above the legal limit at the time of the wreck, which is why he is facing DUI charges.
The wreck happened on June 6, 2019 at approximately 4:05 a.m. A 36-year-old pedestrian was crossing a road when a 30-year-old driver approached the intersection. Police claim that the driver struck the pedestrian but did not stop, even though he was aware of what had just happened. It is not clear when or how they encountered the driver they believe to be responsible, but when police administered a BAC test, they say his registered higher than .08.
One of the counts for aggravated DUI also accuses him of being under the influence of alcohol and something else, such as drugs or an intoxicating compound. A judge issued a warrant for the man’s arrest and also set a $500,000 bail. However, to be released from police custody he will only need to post $50,000 of that amount.
Being charged with a single count for drunk driving can be scary enough, so facing eight different DUI counts may feel completely overwhelming. Defendants in Illinois might not be sure where or even how to start when it comes to planning a strong criminal defense. Instead of leaving things up to chance, a defendant may want to consider whether speaking with an experienced lawyer could be helpful.