Man Charged After Fiery, Fatal Crash
CHICAGO (CBS) – A 41-year-old man has been charged with involuntary manslaughter and aggravated DUI after a fiery, fatal crash Sunday morning in south suburban Chicago Heights.
Bill Brown was high on cocaine when he plowed his car into a BMW early Sunday morning, killing 31-year-old Jose Romero Magana and his 12-year-old daughter Martiza Romero, CBS 2's Roseanne Tellez reports.
Three other young children escaped the crash, with the help of good Samaritans, but were badly burned.
"Two people got burned alive," Samaritans said. "We were able to successfully get three children out of the backseat. We tried to help the people in the front seat, but the car was in flames and it was too, too hot."
The six-year-old sibling is on life-support and a four and two-year old suffered second degree burns, prosecutors said in court Tuesday.
Brown is being held on $750,000 bond after prosecutors said he admitted doing cocaine shortly before the crash. He has been charged with 2 counts of each of involuntary manslaughter and aggravated DUI.
Prosecutors said Brown ran a red light and tested positive for cocaine.
Friends and family of Brown said he is a security guard at a menswear store, a father of two, and a dedicated volunteer at a Chicago veterans center.
He has no prior criminal record.
