Teen Charged In Crash That Killed Pregnant Woman, Unborn Child

KANE COUNTY, IL – A Carpentersville teen is accused of causing a crash this past May that claimed the life of a 32-year-old pregnant woman and her unborn child and injuring two others. Frank Ruiz, 19, of the 100 block of Cordova Road in Carpentersville, faces two counts of reckless homicide, a Class 3 felony; and two counts of aggravated reckless driving, a Class 4 felony, in connection with the May 19 crash that killed Rocio Hernandez-Baldera, 32, of Carpentersville.

Police said Hernandez-Balderas was a passenger in a 2011 Toyota Corolla that was headed east on Golfview Lane when it was struck by a 2005 GMC Yukan, which was northbound on Route 25. Hernandez-Balderas and four passengers in the Corolla were all extricated from the vehicle and taken to the hospital.

Rocio Hernandez-Balderas was pronounced dead later that same day.

Ruiz was driving at an excessive speed, disobeyed a traffic control device and failed to reduce speed to prevent the crash, prosecutors said.

Ruiz surrendered to authorities on Friday, Dec. 14, and appeared in bond court Saturday. A judge set Ruiz’s bail at $25,000 and released him based upon his promise to appear in court, according to a news release from the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office.

The judge set Ruiz’s initial court appearance for 9 a.m. Jan. 25, 2019.

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• Pregnant Woman Killed, 5 Injured In Carpentersville Crash

PHOTO VIA KANE COUNTY STATE'S ATTORNEY'S OFFICE