The friendships forged in college are often some of the closest that a person may have. College friends serve as maids of honor, bridesmaids best men and godparents, among other roles. Unfortunately, one young man in Illinois is coping with the loss of two of his friends after a fatal car accident took their lives. He now faces a DUI charge in connection with their death.
The two men died in an accident that happened at approximately 2 a.m. one day in mid-July. Police reports claim that the sedan the three college students were traveling in struck several trees before plunging into the waters of a quarry. The driver, a 21-year-old male, was able to swim to safety.
Unfortunately, the two other males, both 21, were unable to escape the car and pronounced dead at the hospital after recovery by emergency responders. The driver, reportedly a former president of an anti-drinking organization in high school, has now been charged with driving under the influence and reckless homicide. While police claim that the driver’s blood alcohol content was above the legal limit, it is unclear how this was determined.
Unfortunately, three families will be forever altered as a result of this fatal accident — the families of the two deceased men as well as the family of the man now facing a DUI charge. It is important that Illinois prosecutors preserve the rights of the accused man throughout the criminal process. As in all criminal cases, the accused has the right to a fair trial and is legally presumed innocent until — and only if — sufficient evidence is provided to prove otherwise.
Source: NBC Chicago, “Former Leader of Anti-Drinking Club Charged With DUI in Fatal Naperville Crash“, , July 20, 2014