Bond has been set for a Chicago man accused of causing a head-on, wrong way crash that killed two people last week.
According to the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office, 25-year-old Juan Rodea-Cruz is facing charges of Aggravated DUI Causing Death, a Class 2 felony, and one count of Aggravated DUI – Causing Great Bodily Harm, a Class 4 felony. His bond was set at $750,000 by a DuPage County judge.
Just before 3 a.m. on Oct. 20, Rodea-Cruz was allegedly driving his vehicle northbound on Route 83 in Clarendon Hills when he veered into the southbound lanes near 55th Street. Police say that Rodea-Cruz’s vehicle then collided head-on with a southbound vehicle.
Two people in the vehicle, 27-year-old Marko Boskovic and 26-year-old Laura Uribe, both died at area hospitals as a result of their injuries. Another victim remains in critical condition at an area hospital, and a 27-year-old man has been treated and released.
Police say that when they arrived on scene they found Rodea-Cruz alone in his car, reeking of alcohol, and with bloodshot eyes. Numerous opened and unopened bottles of beer were found in the vehicle, along with a broken bottle of hard liquor.
“Mr. Rodea-Cruz’s decision to allegedly get behind the wheel after he had been drinking demonstrates his complete disregard for the motoring public,” DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin said in a statement. “It is unfathomable that in today’s world, with ride-sharing services available with the touch of a finger, people still continue to get behind the wheel after they have been drinking.”
Rodea-Cruz’s next court appearance is set for Nov. 25. If convicted of the charges, he faces a maximum of 28 years in prison.
