Morris Man Charged With DUI Causing Death

MORRIS, IL — A Grundy County judge set bail Tuesday at $500,000 for a 20-year-old Morris resident who was arrested in connection with Sunday night's deadly wreck along Interstate 80 that killed a 43-year-old semi driver and injured a 25-year-old Morris man.

The Illinois State Police said that Jean Christopher Dylan Wilson of Morris was arrested Monday on charges of aggravated DUI –involving death.

At 11:55 p.m. Sunday, state troopers responded to a crash involving a blue Jeep and a black Freightliner semi-tractor trailer along I-80 near Brisbon Road. The semi driver, Brandon E. Heard, of River Grove, Ill., was pronounced dead at the scene.

Wilson's passenger inside the Jeep, a 25-year-old man from Morris, suffered life-threatening injuries and was airlifted to another Illinois hospital, authorities said.

"An investigation revealed the Jeep, which was being driven by Wilson, was stationary on the right shoulder of Interstate 80 westbound east of Brisbon Road. As the Jeep merged back into traffic, the Freightliner traveling in the right lane, struck the rear of the Jeep," state police said.

The Grundy County State’s Attorney’s Office charged Wilson with two charges of aggravated DUI-involving death, a Class 2 Felony.

Wilson remains in the Grundy County Jail. The young man from Morris must come up with $50,000 cash in order to regain his freedom while his case awaits trial.