Aurora Man Charged After Fatal Wrong-Way Crash On I-94: ISP

AURORA, IL — An Aurora man is facing first-degree murder charges after Illinois State Police said he purposefully drove against Interstate 94 traffic on July 31, leading to the death of the passenger in his car.

Juan Ruiz Huerta, 29, was charged with three counts of first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon not a firearm, kidnapping and unlawful restraint — all felonies — in connection with the fatal crash.

Ruiz Huerta was driving north on the Edens around 5:50 p.m. Friday when he and the 28-year-old Victory A. Swanigan, of Chicago, got into an argument. The man then turned the car around and began speeding south in the northbound lanes, ISP said Monday.

Ruiz Huerta's vehicle struck another car near 53rd Street, and Swanigan died as a result of the collision, police said.

Ruiz Huerta and the driver of the other vehicle were both taken to hospitals with injuries.

The Aurora man was then transported to the Riverdale Police Department and is being held pending his first court appearance.

Police said they do not have further information to share at the time of publication.