June 2011 Archives

Martin Candia was sentenced to seven years for an aggravated fatal DUI that killed ten-year old Calvin Santos in the North Side of Chicago last year.

According to the Chicago Tribune, Candia blood-alcohol level was slightly over the legal limit when he crashed his car into a parked SUV. By slamming into the SUV, Candia pushed the SUV into the car parked in front of it. Ten-year old Calvin Santos was standing between the two parked cars and was crushed to death.

Candia's blood-alcohol level at the time of the accident was 0.095 or about one light beer over the legal limit reports the Tribune. The legal limit in Illinois is 0.08.

A study by Alliance Against Intoxicated Motorists (AAIM) showed Rockford to be the top Illinois municipality for DUI arrests with 727 arrests in 2010. Chicago suburb Naperville ranked second with 671 DUI arrests.

AAIM Executive Director said the results of the study do not mean that more people drink and drive in Rockford, Naperville, or any of the other towns topping their list. Instead, the Director indicated the study shows the level of enforcement, and priority given to making DUI arrests, by police officers in those towns reports the Daily Herald.

Drew Forquer’s alleged fifth DUI was a fatal DUI. But Forquer’s defense now claims that he wasn’t drunk at the time of the accident, and they have a 0.045 Breathalyzer test to prove it (the legal limit is 0.08).

According to the Chicago Tribune, Forquer admittedly drank two beers the morning of the accident. But the former dentist says that he was sober later that afternoon when he got into a car accident that killed a motorcycle rider. However, the Chicago police officer that responded to the accident said that he smelled alcohol on Forquer and suspected that Forquer was drunk after administering a field-sobriety test.

Paul Woodard, a 34-year old man from Chicago, was recently arrested for a DUI, marking his 21st citation for driving with a suspended license. Woodard was charged with an aggravated DUI due to a previous DUI conviction that also occurred while he was driving with a suspended license reports the Chicago Tribune.

According to the Tribune, a Montgomery police officer pulled Woodard over after watching him drive erratically. Perhaps aware of his potential legal problems stemming from his previous 20 citations, Woodard jumped out of his car and attempted to flee the police officer on foot. After a couple blocks, the officer was able to catch up and arrest Woodard.

Saul Chavez was charged with aggravated DUI and leaving the scene of an accident involving death after he allegedly struck a 66-year old insurance broker in a fatal hit-and-run. William McCann, the victim, was reportedly crossing the street in Logan Square when Chavez plowed into him, reports the Chicago Sun-Times.

According to the Sun-Times, Chavez hit McCann with such force that McCann flew into the car’s windshield. After Chavez hit his brakes, his victim reportedly was thrown to the ground when Chavez tried to make a getaway by running over McCann and dragging his body. Before Chavez could get very far, one Good Samaritan cut him off with a minivan, blocking his path.

After being pressured by several U.S. Senators, Apple has decided to ban from its store future apps that will inform users of police DUI checkpoints. However, Apple will continue to sell existing apps containing this feature, thereby leading the Senators to consider Apple's decision only a half-win reports USA Today.

Earlier this year, USA Today reported on the growing popularity of apps (short for applications) that help drivers avoid getting arrested for traffic offenses like running red lights and speeding. Police agencies found especially troubling a function in some of these apps that allowed drunk drivers to look up (and avoid) DUI checkpoints.

Former Chicago Cubs hitting-machine Mark Grace was arrested for a DUI over Memorial Day weekend in Scottsdale, Arizona. The Arizona Republic reports that Grace was arrested for suspicion of driving with a blood-alcohol content over the legal limit after police observed him weaving in and out of traffic and making wide turns.

The 46-year old Grace, who played 13 years for the Cubs before winding down his career in Arizona, admitted to having a few drinks before the arrest reports the Republic. Grace did not have his wallet or license with him at the time of arrest, and was taken to a command post where he gave a blood alcohol test.

Elgin resident Sandra Uher had her bail revoked after showing up to court drunk for her sixth DUI charge. The Associated Press reports that the 54-year old Uher was free on $100,000 bail when she was taken into custody.

According to the AP, Sandra Uher was arrested for her sixth DUI in March after failing a field sobriety test with a blood alcohol content of 0.30 (almost four times the legal limit). To make matters worse, Uher was driving with a revoked license. Uher now faces up to 30 years in jail for her sixth DUI arrest.

Joannie Pittman has been charged with aggravated DUI and reckless homicide for a one-car accident she caused over Memorial Day that killed Everett Bramlett and injured seven others. The Chicago Tribune reports that Pittman had a blood alcohol level over twice the legal limit, and was reaching for a potato chip while driving, when she lost control of her car and struck a guardrail.

Pittman was one of eight people (four adults and four children) in the car and was headed to her sister’s house for a birthday party at the time of the accident reports the Tribune. Police indicated that Pittman admitted to drinking “a lot of beer” at a barbecue prior to the accident.

A woman was charged with a DUI after alcohol was reportedly involved in a one-car accident that killed 11-month old Everett Bramlett and injured seven others. According to the Chicago Tribune, the woman was driving an Oldsmobile Cutlass filled with four women and four children when she lost control of the car and struck a guard rail.

The Tribune reports that none of the children in the car were wearing seatbelts or other safety devices at the time of the accident and three of the children were ejected from the car. Eleven-month-old Everett Bramlett was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident, a 6-year old boy is in critical condition, and the other two children are listed in good condition.