$1M Bond In DUI Crash That Killed Passenger, Hurt Trooper
WHEATON, Ill. (STMW) -- A Chicago man charged with DUI after allegedly crashing into a parked State Police car, killing a civilian keeping warm inside after a crash, was ordered held on $1 million Sunday in DuPage County.
Daniel C. Clark, 32, of Chicago, was charged Saturday with one count each of aggravated DUI involving death and aggravated DUI involving great bodily harm, according to a statement from DuPage County State's Attorney Robert B. Berlin.
The DuPage County Sheriff's office also said he was cited with failure to yield to emergency vehicles and driving too fast for conditions / failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident.
On Sunday, Clark appeared in DuPage County Bond Court in Wheaton and was ordered held on $1 million bond and must post $100,000, according to the sheriff's office.
Clark is accused of crashing into an Illinois State Police vehicle early Saturday on the Eisenhower Expressway (I-290), killing a civilian sitting in the back of the State Police vehicle to stay warm following an earlier wreck.
A State Police trooper had stopped on the Eisenhower Expressway near Mill Road near Addison just before 1 a.m. Saturday to help 42-year-old Frank S. Caruso, who had been involved in a non-injury accident, Illinois State Police spokeswoman Maria Navarro said.
The trooper reportedly activated the vehicle's emergency lights and positioned the vehicle to block the left two lanes of traffic.
State Police said Caruso was sitting in the back seat of the police car to keep warm when a 2010 Chevrolet Impala driven by Clark rear-ended the police car.
Caruso was taken to Elmhurst Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 2:15 a.m. Saturday, Illinois State Police Elgin District Master Sgt. Bart Lamb said. The DuPage County Coroner's office said the victim lived in Brookfield.
"This is a tragic loss of life allegedly caused by a man who believed he was able to drive after he had been drinking," Belrin said in the release. "People have got to learn that far too often drinking and driving can be a deadly combination. If someone you know has been drinking, do not get behind the wheel of an automobile. Call a cab or get a ride from someone who hasn't been drinking. Our hearts go out to the family and friends of Mr. Caruso in their time of loss."
The trooper was taken to Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood with a possible concussion, Lamb said. The trooper is expected to fully recovered, Berlin said in the release.
Clark was initially taken to Alexian Brothers Medical Center in Hoffman Estates with non-life-threatening injuries, Lamb said.
(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2012. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
