Chicago Criminal Lawyer Blog
Chicago’s busy streets are filled with cars, pedestrians, buses, and cyclists every hour of the day. When a serious crash happens and someone loses their life, police often look for intoxication as a cause. Under Illinois law, a fatal crash involving alcohol or drugs can quickly escalate from a tragic accident to a felony criminal charge.
An Aggravated DUI Causing Death is one of the most serious criminal offenses prosecuted in Cook County. It falls under 625 ILCS 5/11-501(d)(1)(F), which defines aggravated DUI as any violation of the DUI statute that results in the death of another person. This offense is not a misdemeanor—it is a Class 2 felony, and in some cases, it can be treated even more harshly depending on the facts.
In Chicago, law enforcement investigates fatal crashes aggressively. Officers from the Chicago Police Department’s Major Accident Investigation Unit may conduct blood draws, interview witnesses, and reconstruct the crash scene. The State’s Attorney’s Office can then file aggravated DUI homicide charges, often before toxicology reports are even finalized.
