Facing drunk driving charges is a serious matter. This type of criminal allegation can have serious consequences, including jail time and loss of driving privileges. Certain factors can exacerbate the situation, too. For example, a DUI charge for an incident that also involved a crash or a death can be much more severe.
A 54-year-old Illinois man is currently charged with both an aggravated DUI as well as reckless homicide. The night of the wreck, police believe that he was under the influence of alcohol when he climbed behind the wheel of his vehicle and took off driving. That same day while traveling westbound along a roadway, he crossed the center yellow line and drifted into the eastbound lane, where there was at least one oncoming vehicle.
The oncoming vehicle was apparently not able to get out of the way in time, and the two cars collided head-on. The driver of that eastbound vehicle was pulled out of his vehicle by emergency responders and died at the scene of the accident. It does not appear as if the driver who was arrested was injured in the wreck.
It is not uncommon for DUI charges to proceed much more quickly than other allegations, especially when it comes to retaining or losing driving privileges. In addition to dealing with other related charges, this can be overwhelming for a defendant in Illinois. This is why seeking guidance from a more experienced individual can be helpful for those who want help determining which options are most appropriate for their unique situations.