Chicago DUI Lawyer Blog

A Chicago man, James Cox, 39, was sentenced to ten years in prison by a Cook County judge for aggravated DUI resulting in the death of Kim Brown, 27, and her premature baby. The accident occurred October 21, 2009 when Brown was between six and seven months pregnant. The premature baby boy was delivered by Cesarean section but died the next morning. A mother and her two children ages 1 and 3 were also injured in the incident when Cox allegedly disobeyed a red light and struck another vehicle, which struck the pedestrians.

Man gets 10 years for DUI crash that killed pregnant woman, www.wbbm780.com, May 20, 2010

The mother of the 5-year-old boy who died in a tragic alleged DUI-related car crash, discussed previously, has sued the city of Chicago Heights and her boyfriend, Cecil Connor, for wrongful death. Kathie LaFond alleges in the lawsuit that the Chicago Heights Police Department failed to take sufficient steps to determine if the driver, Connor, could safely drive the car after LaFond told the officer that she was the dedicated driver.

The suit further alleges that the officer ordered Connor to drive away from the scene. Steger police were called to the scene of the fatal crash 40 minutes after the original stop. Chicago Heights police claim that LaFond gave verbal permission for her boyfriend to leave with the child and gave no indication that Conner had been drinking. LaFond’s attorneys disagree with this version of events, claiming that the officer should have impounded the vehicle, ultimately failing to protect the child, Michael Langford Jr.

Mom of boy who died in DUI crash sues Chicago Heights, chicagotribune.com, May 15, 2010

A Cook County Judge ruled yesterday that key evidence couldn’t be used in the case against a Chicago police officer involved in a fatal alleged DUI crash. The Chicago officer was filmed drinking substantial amounts of alcohol minutes prior to a car crash that resulted in the deaths of Miguel Flores and Erick Lagunas. The crash occurred on Thanksgiving Day 2007 while Officer John Ardelean was off duty.

Judge Thomas Gainer Jr.’s ruling throws out Ardelean’s arrest based on a lack of probable cause. His criminal defense attorneys challenged the arrest based on the accounts of two officers, a sergeant, and a fire department paramedic who all claimed that Ardelean didn’t appear intoxicated at the scene. Only several hours later did a police lieutenant suspect he was intoxicated, at which time he was subject to a Breathalyzer.

Adelean had been charged with four counts of aggravated DUI and two counts of reckless homicide. He had been filmed drinking at the Martini Ranch Bar just minutes prior to the crash. Prosecutors must decide whether to proceed on those charges by the next court date (May 25th at 26th and California).

James V. Lobianco, a Chicago deputy commissioner, has resigned after getting into an alleged DUI-related accident in Lakeview while driving a city-issued car.

On April 15, Lobianco was driving a Toyota Prius registered to the city when he allegedly hit the car in front of him at a red light, causing a chain-reaction. No one was injured.

Lobianco allegedly refused field sobriety tests as well as a Breathalyzer test. He was subsequently charged with driving under the influence and failure to reduce speed.

A Palatine man was charged with two counts of aggravated DUI after allegedly rear-ending a cab on the Kennedy. According to the Illinois State Police, the crash occurred at approximately 3:45 a.m. The cab was pulled over on the right side of the northbound Kennedy because a passenger was feeling ill. As a second-time DUI offender, the 25-year-old driver, Joseph R. Lowery, was charged with two counts of aggravated DUI.

Lowery was driving a Lexus when he allegedly rear-ended the minivan taxi. A female passenger was leaning out of the curbside door when the crash occurred. The impact ejected the 26-year-old woman, who was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in critical condition. The taxi was allegedly on the right shoulder and partially in the right lane of traffic.

Lowery, the taxi driver, as well as the four other taxi passengers were taken to hospitals in unidentified conditions.

Kyle Sievert, 23, of Arlington Heights has been charged with DUI resulting from a traffic crash in Crystal Lake that ended in the death of a 24-year-old woman. Sievert was driving a Trans Am Saturday night with 3 passengers. At approximately 11:28PM, Sievert reportedly lost control of his vehicle, entering the opposite lane of traffic and into the path of a Jeep Cherokee. The passenger side of Sievert’s Trans Am struck the front of the Jeep.

Sievert was treated for injuries and then taken into custody by the Crystal Lake Police. One of his passengers, Vanessa Toby, of Schaumburg, died from her injuries later at the hospital. His two additional passengers were treated for injuries, while the driver and passenger of the Jeep were examined and released on scene.

Sievert was charged with aggravated DUI resulting in a motor vehicle accident resulting in death, and aggravated DUI resulting in an accident resulting in great bodily harm, as well as failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident and improper lane usage. He remained in the McHenry County Jail after a $75,000 bond was set on Monday.