A West Chicago man facing charges in connection with a fatal DUI crash that claimed the life of a pedestrian early Monday morning will remain free pending his trial.
The Incident
James Vaughn, 43, appeared in court Tuesday morning where Judge Joshua Dieden denied the state’s motion to detain him before his trial, according to a statement from the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office. Vaughn has been charged with two counts of aggravated DUI causing death.
Around 2:36 a.m., West Chicago police officers responded to the area of Roosevelt Road and Pearl Road for a report of a crash involving a pedestrian, according to prosecutors. They found 36-year-old Miguel Duran lying face down in the road. Despite efforts, Duran was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
Investigation Findings
Investigators determined Vaughn was driving west on Roosevelt Road in his 2011 Jeep Liberty when he allegedly struck Duran as he was crossing the street. Vaughn remained at the scene where responding officers detected an odor of alcohol as well as glassy and bloodshot eyes on him.
A sobriety test revealed Vaughn’s blood alcohol level was 0.11 at the time of the crash, according to prosecutors. Officers also allegedly recovered a can of Monaco, an alcoholic cocktail, behind the front passenger seat during a search of his Jeep.
Statements from Officials
Like all alleged DUI cases, the case against Mr. Vaughn was 100% avoidable, stated DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin. With ride-sharing services available with just the touch of a finger at any time day or night, there is absolutely no reason to drive after you have been drinking, yet people still continue to get behind the wheel when they know full well, they should not.
This is a senseless tragedy on many levels and is the reason why the City of West Chicago continues to make a concentrated effort to remove impaired drivers from our roadways, added West Chicago Chief of Police Colin Fleury.
Legal Proceedings
Vaughn’s next court appearance is scheduled for May 13 for arraignment.
Conclusion
The case underscores the devastating consequences of driving under the influence and highlights the ongoing efforts to combat impaired driving in West Chicago. As legal proceedings unfold, the community remains vigilant in promoting safety on the roadways.
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