Clerk Indicted In DUI Crash That Killed Mother
MARKHAM, Ill. (STMW) - A south suburban village clerk was indicted Wednesday after being charged in a Route 394 wrong-way crash that killed a woman last month.
On Wednesday, Valle was indicted with the charges and an arraignment date was set for March 29, Cook County State's Attorney's office spokesman Andy Conklin said.
Valle was ordered held on $250,000 bond on Feb. 15.
About 1:15 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 4, Valle was driving northbound on in the southbound lanes of Route 394 just south of the Bishop Ford Freeway, Illinois State Police said. His vehicle struck a 2000 Chrysler Cirrus head-on and the impact caused the Chrysler to overturn into the center median.
The passenger in the Chrysler, Melikah Little, was killed instantly. The driver, 27-year-old Angelina Jones of Chicago, was critically injured, police said. Little would have celebrated her 33rd birthday on Feb. 8.
Valle's vehicle then struck a White 1998 Ford Taurus head-on. That car was driven by Melikah Little's husband, Manuel L. Little, 37, who was traveling directly behind his wife, the release said.
Valle, of 3007 201st Pl. in Lynwood was driving a Black 2008 Ford Taurus owned by the village of Lynwood. Witnesses reported the vehicle traveling the wrong way at Route 394 and U.S. 30, two miles from the crash scene.
Alcohol and speed were contributory causes of the crash, State Police said.
Angelina Jones was also charged with DUI -- a Class A misdemeanor -- and several traffic violations, police said.
Reckless homicide while operating a vehicle carries a punishment of 2-5 years in prison, while DUI causing death is punishable by 3-14 years, according to police.
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