Driver in DUI Crash that Killed 5 Teens Found Guilty

Sandra Vasquez testified in front of a Kendall County jury on Monday regarding the fatal February 2007 crash in which she drove intoxicated teenagers home from a party in Oswego. Vasquez, of Aurora, is charged with aggravated DUI and multiple counts of reckless homicide. She claimed that she went to her aunt’s house to pick up her younger sister and then various teens asked her for a ride. She said that she felt bad for them and agreed to drive them home. She did not know any of the teenagers and her sister was not one of the passengers in the car. Eight teenagers got into the car and five of them were killed when Vasquez allegedly swerved off the road and into a utility pole. Prosecutors claimed that the 26-year-old had a blood-alcohol level of .105. A defense witness said that Vasquez’s BAC level was between .04 and .07 based on blood which was drawn a few hours after the crash. A Kendall County jury reached a guilty verdict after over 11 hours of deliberation. Sandra Vasquez faces up to 28 years in prison when she is sentenced later this year.

Driver in fatal crash says she felt bad for teens who needed rides, www.chicagotribune.com, June 28, 2010 Driver guilty in DUI crash that killed 5 teens, www.suntimes.com, June 30, 2010